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THE LIFE 



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INTERPRETED, 

AND THEIR TRUTH MADE GOOD BY OUR ENGLISH ANNALS : 

SEIKO A 

CHRONOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 

' .1%, 

OFiALL THE , 

KINGS AND MEMORABLE PASSAGES 

OF THIS KINGDOM, 
FROM BRUTE TO THE REIGN OF KING CHARLES, 



A SUBJECT NEVER PUBLISHED IN THIS KIND BEFORE, AND DESERVES 
TO BE OBSERVED AND KNOWN BY ALL MEN. 



Quotque aderant vates, Rebar adesse Deos. 



JLoxami 

PRINTED FOR LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO. 
FINSBURY SQUARE. 



1813. 






V> 







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v. 



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\ 



HARDING AND WRIGHT, 

Printers, 
St John's Square, London, 



/ - 



/ 



v/ 



TO THE READER. 



Courteous Sp Considerate Reader, 

I have here exposed to thy especial 
perusal, The Life and Prophecies of our famous Predictor, 
Merlinus, surnamed Ambrosius ; who, though he lived 
in the time of profane paganism, was a professed Christian, 
and therefore, his auguries the better to be approved and 
allowed, which thou hast, with all their exposition and 
explanation, expressly and punctually, making plain and 
evident how genuinely and properly they comply with the 
truth of our chronology. In which you shall find (adding 
the supplement of the history from Brute, who laid the 
first foundation of our British Colony, to the time of king 
Vortigernus, or Vortigern, the usurper of the crown, under 
whose reign Merlin first flourished) a true catalogue of all 
the kings of this island, with a summary of all passages of 
state, ecclesiastical or temporal, of any remark or moment, 
during their principalities and dominions, insomuch that 
scarce any thing shall be here wanting to thy best wishes, 
if thou art desirous to be instructed and faithfully informed 
in the knowledge of our English annals. For in the stead 
of a large study book, and huge voluminous tractate, able 



IV 



to take up a whole year in reading, and to load and tire a 
porter in carrying, thou hast here a small manuel, con- 
taining all the pith and marrow of the greater, made port- 
able for thee (if thou so please) to bear in thy pocket, so 
that thou may'st say, that in this small compendium or 
abstract, thou hast Hollinshed, Polychronicon, Fabian, 
Speed, or any of the rest of more giantlike bulk or binding. 
To which, my short abbreviary, I strive to make this my 
prologue or preface, to thee alike suitable, being as succinct 
and briefly contrived as the former summarily compre- 
hended, desiring thee to read considerately, and withal to 
censure charitably, and so (without further compliment) 
wishing thy care in the one, and courtesy in the other, with 
a favourable pardon of some few errors committed in the 
Press, 1 bid thee farewell. 



THOMAS HE YWOOD. 



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* 

• 



CfjronosrapiKtal gtgto^ 



OF THE 



KIMGS OF BMlTvAIA 1 

FROM THE FIRST PLANTATION OF THIS ISLAND BY 
BRUTE AND HIS COUSIN CORIN.EUS, 

To the Reign of King Vortigern; 



IN WHOSE TIME 



AMBROSIUS MERLINUS, 

BEGAN TO UTTER HIS PREDICTIONS. 



yiTW 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER FIRST. 

Brute's first plantation in this island — How he divided it amongst 
his three sons — Of several famous cities built here by sundry 
kings, and how divers rivers took Iheir first names — Of ail the- 
Temarkable passages that happened in their reigns — A catalogue 
of the kings continued from Brute, to the end of his line and 
offspring. 



F 



lOR the better illustration of this present work intend- 
ed, it would not be amiss to shew you a brief 
progress of all the memorable passagess of the time, before 
we come to the prophecy, with a catalogue of the kings of 
this island, and what remarkable things happened in their 
reigns. To begin with the first, Brute, who was of the 
ancient and noble blood of the Trojans, descended from 
./Eneas and Crusa, the daughter of king Priam. These 
had a son called Ascanius, after his father, king of Italy. 
Brute was the son of Sylvius, /Eneas, the son ofxlscanius. 
This Brute, at fifteen years of age, when hunting, by the 
unfortunate glancing of an arrow, slew his father, and had 
been also in his birth the deaih of his mother : but for the 
last disastrous act, he willingly exiled himsjelf, and taking 
with him a choice company of adventurers, thought to 

A 



2 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

discover some new plantation. To omit his many troubles 
both by land and sea, in which he was still most victor- 
iously prosperous; at length he encountered with a small 
fleet, of which a Trojan, and his near kinsman was captain, 
whose name was Corinaeus, who, joining their forces 
together, and after divers and sundry perils, landed in this 
island, (of white and chalky cliffs) called Albion, where 
finding none but giants of mighty stature, he destroyed 
the most part of them: of whom the greatest, both in bulk 
and command, was called Gogmagog, with whom Cori- 
na?us wrestling to prove their trial of strength, Gogmagog, 
in his gripe, broke a rib in the side of Corinaeus; at which, 
he being enraged, gathering all his spirit about him, cast 
him down the high rock of Dover, (the place where they 
proved the mastery) which is called the fall of Gogmagog 
unto this day: for which, and other valiant actions 
before achieved by him, he gave him that entire province; 
which, from his name beareth the title of Cornwall. 

Brute, then, taking full view of the island, and searching 
up the river Thames, built upon it a City; which, in remem- 
brance of the late subverted Troy, he called Troynovant, 
or new Troy, now London. This done, he put his sold- 
iers to tilling of the earth, and governed the realm 
peacably for the space of twenty-four years. He had by 
his wife lgnogen, the danghter of Pandrusus, three sons, 
between whom, in his life-time, he divided his kingdom: 
to JLocrine, the eldest, he gave all that is called England, 
but then, Logria, after his name. To the second, Cambrius, 
or Carnbre, he left the country of Wales, (at first) from 
him called Cambria. To the third, Albanact, he gave the 
north part of the land, then titled from him Albania, now 
Scotland. That done, he expired, and was buried at Troy- 
novant. This happened in the year of the world, four 
thousand fourscore and seven. 

Locrine, being king of Britain, hearing that king of 
Scythia, had invaded his brother Albanact's dominions,, 
and having slain him in a battle, governed in his stead, 
lie, with his brother Cambre, assembled a mighty host to 
avenge his death ; and in a sharp conflict, dis-comfited 
his whole army ; and so hotly pursued him in his flight, 
that this Scythian, (which was called H umber) was 
drowned in that river which runneth up from Kavenspurn 



"WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 3 

to Hull, which hath since borne his name, even to this 
day. Alter which victory, Locrine, who had espoused 
Guendolina, daughter to Corinaeus, duke of Coniwal, 
grew enamoured of fistrild a beauteous lady, and daughter 
to the aforesaid H umber, by whom he had a daughter 
named Sabrina: of which his queen having intelligence, 
she accited her father and friends to make war upon her 
husband, and slew him in the fight, after he had governed 
the realm for the space of twenty years. Then the mas- 
culine spirited lady took his concubine, Estriid, with her 
beautiful young daughter Sabrina, and caused them both 
to be drowned in that river which partelh England and 
Wales; and from Sabrina is called Severn to all posterity. 
Then, Gwendolina, took upon her the government of the 
land, till her young son, Madan, came to mature age, and 
then resigned it up entirely unto his own hands, after she 
had governed fifteen years. 

Madan began his reign in the year of the world, four 
thousand one hundred and twenty-two, of whom is little 
left worthy of memory, but that he tyrannized over his 
subjects, and in the fortieth year of his reign, being at his 
disport of hunting, and lost by his train, he was devoured 
of wolves, which were then plenteous in the land; leav- 
ing two sons, Memprisius and Manlius. These two bro- 
thers were at mortal enmity; till, in the end, Memprisius, 
the elder, caused the other to be traiterously slain ; after 
which he fell into all kind of vices, and abandoning the 
bed of his lawful wife, used the company of many prosti- 
tutes and concubines, and then into the brutish sin of 
sodomy; for which he grew hated both of God and 
man ; whose body, also, was (in hunting) torn to pieces 
by wild beasts, leaving behind him one son begotten in 
lawful wedlock, named Ebrank. ' 

He began his reign in the year of the world, four thou- 
sand one hundred fourscore and two; he had one and 
twenty wives, of whom he received twenty sons and thirty 
daughters. The eldest of them was Gualeu. All of them 
he sent to Alba Sylvius, (the eleventh king of Italy, and 
the sixth of the LatinsJ to have them married to the i}lood 
of the Trojans. He was a great warrior, and conquered 
in Germany and elsewhere. He builded Caerbrank, now 

a 2 



<§ THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

wards chaced him unto Wales ; where, in a second field, 
Morgan was slain, which place, is to this day called 
Glamorgan, or Morgan's land. After whose death, the 
victor possessed the sovereignty ; of whom, nothing is left 
worthy of memory ; but, that after he had reigned three 
and thirty years, he was buried at Troynovant, leaving 
to succeed him a son, called Rivallo. 

He governed the realm honourably for the space of 
forty-six years; in which time, the greatest thing of remark 
is, that in the two and thirtieth year of his reign, Rome was 
first builded, in the year of the world four thousand, four 
hundred, threescore and ten ; after the first erecting of 
Troynovant, or London, four hundred and seven solar 
years. After Rivallo, reigned his son Sisilius, forty-nine 
years, and was buried at Caerbaddon, or Bath, leaving no 
heir of his body lawfully begotten. Him, Jago, his 
nephew, succeeded; he reigned five and twenty years, 
died without issue, and lieth buried by his uncle Rivallo, 
at Caerbrank, or York. Kinimachus, his brother, govern- 
ed the land after him for the space of fifty-four years, 
and lieth buried by the two before-named kings, he left 
behind him a son called Garboduck ; in whose time, as in 
the reign of the four last kings, nothing happened, deser- 
ving the remembrance of a chronicle, but that he govern- 
ed the realm threescore and three years; died, and was 
buried at London, and left behind him two sons, called 
Ferrex and Porrex. 

These two brothers were made joint sovereigns of this 
kingdom, in the year of the world, four thousand seven 
hundred and eleven, and continued in great fraternal 
amity for a certain time, which expired. Porrex, being 
ambitious after the sole and entire sovereignty, gathered a 
strong power, (unknown to his brother) purposing to 
supplant him from all regal dignity, so that being unpro- 
vided of an army, he was forced to fly into France, where 
he implored the aid and assistance of a potent duke, 
named Gunhardus, or Swardus, who furnished him with 
soldiers sufficient, so that he re-entered the land with his 
host of Gauls, of which, Porrex, hearing, met him with 
his Britons, and gave him battle; in which, Ferrex 
was unfortunately slain. After which victory, retiring 
himself to his palace, where Widen, or as some authors 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 7 

name her Judon, his mother, remained, she setting aside 
all motherly pity, entered his chamber, and by the help 
of her women, in the dead of night, when he was fast 
sleeping, most cruelly slew him, and afterwards, not 
sated with his death, she cut his body into small pieces. 
Thus died the two brothers, when they had ruled the 
land in war and peace five years ; and in them ended the 
genealogical line of Brute, with whom also 1 conclude 
this first chapter. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER SECOND. 

A continuation of the History of the British king's, to the time 
that Julius Caesar made conquest of the island — The building of 
divers cities and towns — Two things especially remarkable in aa 
indulgreut mother, and a most unnatural brother — Sundry other 
passages worthy of observation — The city of Troynovant, how 
called London. 

AFTER the death of these two princes, the nobles of 
the land fell into great dissention amongst them- 
selves, all hating the memory of Gorbodue and his issue, in 
regard that one brother slew the other, and the most unna- 
tural mother was the death of the survivor, and because 
none of Brute's line was left alive, the land was divided 
in four parts ; so that in Albania was one Waler, called 
Staterius: Pinnor governed Loegria, or Middle Britain : 
Rudaulus guided Wales, and Clotenns, Cornwall; whom 
the Britains held to be the most rightful heir : all these 
called themselves kings; to which, some add a fifth, Yevan, 
king of Northumberland. Briefly, Munmutius Donwallo, 
son to Clotenus, duke of Cornwall, by vanquishing the 
rest, became sole sovereign of this island, in the year of 
the world 4748. He was in all his action$ very noble, 
and built within London a famous structure, which he 
called the Temple of Peace, which som^ hold to be the 
same now called Blackwell-Hall. He instituted many 
good and wholesome laws. He gave great privileges to 



8 THE LIFE OP MERLIN, 

the maintaining of temples, cities, ploughs, &c. He began 
the four highways of Britain, which were perfected by his 
son Belinus. He built the two towns of Malmsbury and 
the Vies, and was the first that made for himself a diadem of 
gold, with which he was crowned with great solemnity. 
Insomuch, that some writers name him the first king of 
Britain ; stiiing all his predecessors only dukes, rulers, 
and governors. He, when he had well and honourably- 
governed the land for the term of forty years, died, and 
was buried in the aforesaid Temple of Peace, within 
London, leaving to succeed him two sons ; Belinus and 
Brennus. 

These two brothers divided the land betwixt them, 
and continued in great fraternal unity for the space of 
five years : after which term, Brennus, ambitious to have 
more land, or all, made mortal war against his brother, 
who vanquished him in battle, so that he was forced to 
forsake the land, and arrived in Armorica, now called 
Little Britain, some write into Norway. Howsoever, by the 
supply and assistance oi foreign princes, he made many ia- 
roads into the land, (too long here to relate) to the great 
disturbance of his brother. At length, he assembled a 
strong and puissant army ; against whom, Belinus came 
with a mighty host, as his manifest and mortal enemy. 
But as their enemies w 7 ere ready to join battle, their mother, 
"whose name was Cornway, (of a more indulgent and pene- 
trable nature, than the cruel and savage Widen, before* 
named) exposed herself in person between the two hosts; 
and in a discreet manner and motherly demeanor, using 
all such passionate and moving oratory to her two 
sons; that at length she settled a stedfast unity and peace 
between them. After which accord made, they joined 
Loth their hosts, and with them, conquered a great part of 
Gallia, Italy, and Germany : which done, Belinus return- 
ed into Britain. 

Where, when he came, he repaired old and decayed 
cities, and also built a new one on the river Usk, near to 
Severn, called Caerusk, and afterwards the city of 
Legions; because in the time of Claudius Caesar, divers 
Roman legions, were there billeted and lodged, now called 
Caerlleon. He biiiit Iso an harbour or small haven for 
ships to ride in 3 in Troynovant; in the summit or top 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 9 

whereof stood a vessel of brass, in which, after his death, 
his burnt ashes were inclosed ; which still retains the 
name of Belingsgate. In which interim, Brennus desirous 
to win fame and honour abroad, with an host of Senonen- 
sian Gauls, (so called, because they dwelt about the city 
of Sena) built in Italy and Gallia, these cities following, 
Mediolanum or Milieine, Papi i or Pavie, Burganum, 
Sena, Comum, Brixia, Verona, Vialonza, Cremona, Man- 
tua, &e. He overcame the Romans at the river Albia, 
eleven miles from Rome, and took the city all save the 
capital, to which they laid siege, and one night whilst 
the guardians were asleep, they undermined the earth, and 
were likely to have won it, but a noble Roman named 
Manlius Torquatus, waking by the cry of geese and gan- 
ders, prevented the Gauls, and saved the capital. For 
which cause, the Romans for a long time after, on the 
first day of June, did annually celebrate the feast of 
ganders. 

But Brennus and his people held the Romans so short, 
that they slew many of the senators, and compelled the sur- 
vivors to lay him down a thousand pounds weight in gold; 
besides, they took the spoil of the city, so that they were 
enforced to call back Furius Camilius, whom the v had before 
most ungratefully banished from Ardea, and created h im the 
second time dictator, who gave strong battle to the Gauls, 
and won from them all the gold and jewels which they 
had taken from the Romans, Therefore, Bren turned his 
army towards Greece, entering Macedonia, and dividing 
his people into two hosts, the one he retained with him- 
self, and sent the other into Galatia, which afterwards w r as 
called Gallograecia, and lastly, from GallograccLans, the 
nation were termed GaSathians. Then Bren conquered 
Macedonia, and overcame their duke or king Sosthenes, 
and after spoiled the gods of their temples, and said in 
sport, Rich gods ought to contribute towards men some 
part of their wealth. Thence he came to Uelphos, where 
the oracle was, and robbed the temple of Apollo, upon 
which there was a great earth-quake, and hail-stones of 
mighty weight and bigness, which destroyed some part of 
his host, and upon the rest, an huge part of the rocky 
mountain fell, aud buried them in the earth ; and Bren 



. 



10 L THE LIFE OF MERLIX, - 

being wounded, and despairing of safety, drew his sworcf, 
and killed himself. And his brother, Belinus, after he 
had honourably governed the kingdom of Britain, with 
his brother and alone, for the space of 26 years, expired, 
and was buried at Belingsgate, leaving a son behind hint 
called Gurguintus Barbarosse, or Gurguint with the red 
beard. 

He began his reign in the year of the world 4834, he 
conquered Denmark, and forced from them an annual 
tribute of ^1000. After which victory he sailed towards 
England in great triumph ; but, in his course upon the sea, 
he met with a fleet of thirty sail : who, hauling them, and 
demanding of what country they were, and the purpose of 
their .navigation, they answered him, Their people were 
called Ba lenses, and that they were exiled from Spain, 
and with their wives and children had long sailed upon 
the sea, beseeching the king to have compassion on them, 
and to grant them within his large dominions some place 
to Inhabit, and they would be his true and faithful sub- 
jects. The king commisserating their state, by the advice 
of his barons, granted them a wide and vast country, 
which is the farthest-of the western islands; which, from their 
captain, Irlomall, was called Ireland, and that was the 
first plantation of that country. And after this, Gurguintus 
had established the laws of his fore-fathers, and exercised 
justice among his subjects for the space of 19 years, he 
died, and was buried at Troynovant, leaving a son called 
Guintolinus. 

He, with great honour and clemency guided the land, 
taking to wife an honourable and learned lady, called 
Marcia, who added to the former laws of the land, other 
wholesome statutes and decrees, which were greatly 
embraced and continued long in efficacy and force ; which 
Alurcd, long after, king of England, caused to be trans- 
lated out of the British into the Saxon tongue, and called 
them Marthe he lege, or the Marcian laws : to this wo- 
man, for her great wisdom, the government of the kingdom 
was committed, with the guardianship of his son Cecilius 
for the space of 26 years ; after winch time, the king 
expired, and was buried at London. Of this Cecilius, 
there is little or nothing remembered, but that he govern- 
ed the realm 15 years, leaving to succeed him his son 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROFHECIES. 11 

Kimarus, who was a wild young man, and irregular both 
in his private lifey and public government ; who, when he ■ 
had reigned three years, being in his disport of hunting, 
was traitorously slain by his servants. He was succeeded 
by his son Elan i us, who expired in the s ond year of his 
reign, who was succeeded by his bastard so.i, called Mo- 
rindus, begotten of his concubine Faugrestela. 

He was made king in the year of the world 4^90, who 
was a prince of great valo r and courage, but given to 
wrath and cruelty, of goodly presence and comely person* 
age, but of a marvellous strength above all the nobles of the 
realm. In his time came the king of Mauritania, and 
invaded his realm, whom he encountered with a puissant 
army, and chased to sea, taking many of his soldiers 
prisoners, whom he caused in his own view to be put to 
many cruel and tormenting deaths : at length, riding upon 
the sea strand, he spied an huge monster, which the 
waters cast up alive, which, out of his great courage, and 
ambition of glory, purposing" to slay it with his own 
hands, he was by it devoured, after he had governed 
the kingdom eight years, leaving behind him five sons, 
Gorbomannus, Archigallo, Elidurus, Vigenius, and Pe- 
ridurus. Gorbomannus, being the first begotten son of Mo- ^ 

rindus, succeeded his father, being a just prince, in whose 
time was more riches and plenty than in any of the days 
of his predecessors; who, to the great sorrow both of Ills 
peers and people, died without issue, after he had reigned 
11 years. After whom, his second brother, Archigaiio, 
was instated in the sovereignty: this prince was of a 
contrary condition to the former, who gave himself to 
dissention and strife, imao-ining 1 causes against his nobfes. 

1 ■ 1 c "... 

to deprive them of their possessions and dignities^ and 
raising men of base and sordid birth and quality to office 
and honour; and so he could enrich himself', not caring 
how impoverished his subjects. For which, by one 
assent of the nobility and commons, he was deposed from 
all regal dignity, after he had tyrannized five years. 

In whose stead was instated the third brother, Elidurus, 
in the year of the world 4915, who was so mild and gentle to 
his subjects, that they added to him a surname, and called 
him Elidure the Meek. To express the goodness of his* 

B 2 



10 _ THE LIFE OF MERLIX, - 

being wounded, and despairing of safety, drew his sword, 
and killed himself. And bis brother, Bel in us-, after he 
had honourably governed the kingdom of Britain, with 
his brother and alone, for the space of 26 years, expired, 
and was buried at Belingsgate, leaving a son behind him 
called Gurguintus Barbarosse, or Gurguint with the red 
beard. 

He began his reign in the year of the world 4834, he 
conquered Denmark, and forced from them an annual 
tribute of *€\0Q0. After which victory he sailed towards 
England in great triumph ; but, in his course upon the sea, 
lie met with a fleet of thirty sail : who, hauling them, and 
demanding of what country they were, and the purpose of 
their .navigation, they answered him. Their people were 
called Ba lenses, and that they were exiled from Spain, 
and with their wives and children had long sailed upon 
the sea, beseeching the king to have compassion on them, 
and to grant them within his large dominions some place 
to inhabit, and they would be his true and faithful sub- 
jects. The king commisserating their state, by the advice 
of his barons, granted them a wide and vast country, 
which is the farthest-of the western islands; which, from their 
captain, Irlomall, was called Ireland, and that was the 
iirst plantation of that country. And after this, Gurguintus 
had established the laws of his fore-fathers, and exercised 
justice among his subjects for the space of 19 years, he 
died, and was buried at Troynovant, leaving a son called 
Guintolinus. 

He, with great honour and clemency guided the land, 
taking to wife an honourable and learned lady, called 
Marcia, who added to the former laws of the land, other 
wholesome statutes and decrees, which were greatly 
embraced and continued long in efficacy and force ; which 
Alurcd, long after, king of England, caused to be trans- 
lated out of the British into the Saxon tongue, and called 
them Marthe he lege, or the Marciau laws : to this wo- 
man, for her great wisdom, the government of the kingdom 
was committed, with the guardianship of his son Cecilius 
for the space of 25 years ; after which time, the king 
expired, and was buried at London. Of this Cecilius, 
there is little or nothing remembered, but that he govern- 
ed the realm 15 years, leaving to succeed him his son 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROFHECIES. 11 

Kitnarus, who was a wild young man, and irregular both 
in his private life^ and public government ; who, when he 
bad reigned three years, being in his disport of hunting, 
was traiterously slain by his servants. He was succeeded 
by his son Elanius, who expired in the s< ond year of his 
reign, who was succeeded by his bastard soa, called Mo- 
rindus, begotten of his concubine Faugrestela. 

He was made king in the year of the world 4^90, wlio 
was a prince of great yalo r and courage, but given to 
wrath and cruelty, of goodly presence and comely person- 
age, but of a marvellous strength above all the nobles of the 
realm. In his time came the king of Mauritania, and 
invaded his realm, whom he encountered with a puissant 
army, and chased to sea, taking many of his soldiers 
prisoners, whom he caused hi his own view to be put to 
many cruel and tormenting deaths : at length, riding upon 
the sea strand, he spied an huge monster, which the 
waters cast up alive, which, out of his great courage, and 
ambition of glory, purposing* to slay it with his own 
hands, he was by it devoured, after he had governed 
ihe kingdom eight years, leaving behind him five sons, 
Gorbomannus, Archigalio, Elidurus, Vigenius, and Pe- 
ridurus. Gorbomannus, being the first begotten son of Mo- 
rindus, succeeded his father, being a just prince, in whose 
time was more riches and plenty than in any of the days 
of his predecessors: who, to the great sorrow both of his 
peers and people, died without issue, after he had reigned 
11 years. After whom, his second brother, Archigalio, 
was instated in the sovereignty: this prince was of a 
contrary condition to the former, who gave himself to 
dissention and strife, imagining causes against his ndbfes, 
to deprive them of their possessions and dignities, and 
raising men of base and sordid birth and quality to office 
and honour; and so he could enrich himself, not caring 
how impoverished his subjects. For which, by one 
assent of the nobility and commons, he was deposed from 
all regal dignity, after he had tyrannized five years. 

In whose stead was instated the third brother, Elidurus, 
in the year of the world 4915, who was so mild and gentle to 
his subjects, that they added to him a surname, and called 
him Elidure the Meek. To express the goodness of his* 

b 2 



»^ 



15 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 



condition, it happened while hunting in a wood called 
Ca later, near York, he found his banished brother wander- 
ing in the thick of the forcst ? whom he no sooner saw, bu£ 
dismounted from his steed, and embraced him in his arms, 
and so-conveyed him into the city privately, where he 
concealed him for a time, and at length, feigning himself 
sick, he so wrought with his nobility severally and apart, 
that lie had won them to re-instate his brother Archisrallo 
on the throne, after he himself had governed for the term 
oi five years, who, being again advanced to the supreme po- 
wer and majesty, he changed his former conditions, order- 
ing all things according to equity and justice during his 
natural lire, and then died, after he had lastly reigned ten 
years, and lieth buried at York. Then was Elidurus 
again made king, against whom, his two younger bro- 
thers, Vigenius and Peridurus, had great indignation, 
because for his virtue and piety he was so much beloved 
of the B.itons, therefore they conspired again t him, and 
took him prisoner in battle, when the second time lie had 
reigned two years, committing him into safe custody* 

These two brothers were then jointly made kings, and 
divided the land between them. Vigenius died, after he 
had governed his part of the kingdom seven years: after 
whose death, Peridurus seized the whole under his domi- 
nion, who ruled with great temperance and prudence; in- 
so nuch, that he was praised above his other brethren, and 
Eiiclurus quite forgot; who, after he had reigned with his 
brother and alone for the term of nine years, expired : 
afier whom, Elidurus was fetched from prison, and 
the third time instated on the throne, who continued in 
his former sincerity and integrity; and lastly, being of a good 
age, ended his life, when he had this last time governed 
four years, and was buried at Carlisle, leaving a son called 
Gorbomannus, who began his reign in the year of the 
world 4945, after whom succeeded Margan, and after 
Margan, his brother Emerianus, who was deposed for his 
cruelty and tyranny. After whom, successively reigned 
20 kings ; of whom, little or no mention is made by any 
approved author : the last of which was called Jilegabri- 
dus, a cunning musician, who, for his excellency in that 
faculty was called of the Britains, The God of Glee-men or 
Minstrels. After whom succeeded nine kings, of whom 
there is left neither name nor memory, saving that the last of 



With his strange prophecies. IS 

tliem was named Hely, who governed the kingdom 40 
years, wanting 7 months, which time, of 33 successive 
kings, that is, from Elidure to the last year of Hely, 
amounted to 186 years. This Hely left behind him three 
sons, Lud, Cassibeline,and Nennius. 

Lud, the eldest son of king Hely, began his reign in 
the year of the world 5131; who, in all his actions, shewed 
himself honourable, repaired old temples, and built new, 
and so of cities and towns : but, especially in Troynovant, 
he caused sundry structures to be made, both for the en- 
larging and beautifying of the city, walling it around, 
and ditching it about, and in the west part of the wall made 
a strong gate, and commanded it to be called after his name 
Ludgate,and because he much affected the city, as the place 
where he most frequented, he changed the name thereof 
from Troynovant to Caerlud, or Lud's-town, now London. 
He was strong and mighty in subduing his enemies, liberal, 
given to hospitality, and much loved and feared of the 
Britains ; who, reigning in great peace and prosperity 11 
years, then died, and was buried in Porthlud, or Ludgate, 
leaving two sons, Androgens and Tenantius. 

In regard of the pupilage and minority of the two young 
princes, Cassibellan, their uncle, and brother to king 
Lud, was made king in the year of the world 5142. This 
man was of great wisdom and courage, exercising justice 
mixed with mercy amongst his subjects, insomuch, that 
they favoured him greatly above his nephews: yet^ he 
provided that they were royally educated according to 
their births, and when they came to years of disgretion, he 
gave to Androgeus the city of London, and the earldom of 
Kent, and to Tenantius the dukedom of Cornwall, &c. 



14 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIRD. 

The first conquest of this island by Julius Caesar — Britain made 
tributary to the Romans — The birth of our fcaviour, under Cim- 
beline, king* of Britain — How Southampton came to be so called, 
and the cities of Giocester and Colchester — Vespatian's conquest 
of the isle of Wight — Of Caithness in Scotland — Of Lucius, the 
first christian king of the Britains, and of other Roman governors. 

G AILS Julius Caesar, being employed by the senate 
I" of the famous city of Rome, with Lucius Publius 
\us colleague in the wars of Gailia, now called France, 
being on the sea side, at Callis, beholding the white cliffs 
and rocks of Britain, demanded of the natives what man- 
ner of people inhabited this island, and being fully satis- 
fied concerning the people and commodities thereof, he 
was ambitious to add it to the Roman empire; and to that 
purpose sent messengers to Cassibelan, then King, to make 
him and his land tributary to Rome: at which he being 
highly moved, sent him back a peremptory answer, that 
every sovereign was bound to keep his subjects from sla- 
very and servitude, and maintain them in their franchises 
and liberties, and that he would do to his utmost ability 
and power/ A\ ith this answer Caasar, who was of an 
invincible courage, much incensed, instantly made ready 
his navy, and sailed towards Britain, purposing to add 
this kingdom to his conquest of France, but the Britains 
had pitched stakes on the shore, which much hindered their 
landing, whilst Cassibelan gathering a strong host gave the 
Romans battle, and beat them back unto their ships : but 
after he had new rigged and repaired his navy, and fur- 
nished himself with a sufficient army, he returned again 
the second time, and was likewise beaten back to his great 
dishonour. For which victory twice obtained by the Britains, 
Cassibelan assembled all his lords, and made a great triumph 
at London, where were sundry martial exercises perform- 
ed : in the performance of which, one of Androgeus's 
knights having slain one of the king's kinsmen, whom he 
much loved, he sent to have him stand to the trial of the 
cause; but Androgens denied to give up to the censure of 
the law, and departed in secret, (without taking leave) 
from the court, which gave Cassibelan great cause of in- 
censment against him 



Whose indignation Androgeus justly fearing, sent let- 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 15 

ters unto Caesar, that if he would make a third attempt 
upon this country, he with all his power would be ready 
to assist him against his uncle, pretending that he not only 
usurped his right in the crown, but had done to him di- 
vers other affronts and injuries. Caesar glad of so good 
an opportunity, after hostages given for his fidelity, (which 
were his son Sceva with thhty others of the sons of his 
nobility and gentlemen) a third time invaded the land, 
which Cassibelan bearing, gave him a strong battle in 
a valley near Canterbury, in which he had the bet- 
ter of the day, till Androgeus coming in with his fresh 
forces turned the die of war, so that Cassibelan with his 
Britains, were forced to forsake the field, and after a great 
slaughter of the Britains, retired himself to a place of safe- 
ty, where Caesar kept him so strictly in, that he was forced 
to submit himself, paying to the Romans an annual tribute 
of j£3000. After which, Caesar would have made Andro- 
gens king; but not daring to trust Ins nation which he 
had so lately betrayed, he went with Caesar to Rome^ where 
he ended his life. Cassibelan reigned after this conquest 
of the Romans seven years, in all sixteen: and dying, left 
the sceptre to the younger son Tenantius, who governed 
the realm with all diligence and justice for the space of 
twenty three years, leaving the sovereignty to his son 
Cimbelinus. 

He was made king in the year of the world 5180, in 
the nineteenth of whose reign, our blessed Saviour was 
born of the virgin Mary, which maketh the year of thp 
world from the creation of Adam, to the incarnation of our 
Redeemer,(by the compulation of Isidore, Bede and others) 
5129 years: so that Christ was incarnate from Noah's flood, 
or the general deluge 2957, after Abraham^ 2017, after 
David king of Israel, 1075, from the transmigration or 
the captivity of the Jews to Babylon 520, after Brute's 
plantation in this island, 1136, after Alexander the great 
about 325, after the building of Rome, 729, and i » the be- 
ginning of the 42nd year of Qetavius Augustus Caesar then 
emperor of Rome, &c. But to come back to the history, 
Cimbeline alter he had worthily governed the land 35 years, 
yielded his due to nature, and was interred in Caer-Lud, 
or London, leaving two sons, Guiderius and Arviragus. 

Guiderius, the eldest son of Cimbelinus, began his reiga 



16 THB LIFR OP MERLIN, 

in the seventeenth year of our blessed Saviour's incarna- 
tion, who having a great confidence in his riches and 
strength, denied to pay any tribute to the Romans, which 
had been tendered annually, from the time of Julius Caesar 
to his days. For which, Claudius, then emperor of 
Home, came over with a mighty host, and recovered it 
again : in the host of the Romans was a great captain 
called Hamo, who, in the battle, put upon bim the ar- 
mour and habit of a Britain ; by which means, having 
access to the place where the king fought in person, he 
slew him and escaped : of which disastrous accident, his 
brother, Arviragus, having intelligence, armed himself 
with the cognizance of the dead king, and continued the 
battle with such valour and courage, that in the end he 
put the Romans to flight. Guiderius, bein^ thus slain by 
Hamo, after he had ruled the kingdom 28 years, leaving 
no issue to succeed him, his brother, Arviragus, by the 
general suffrage both of the peers and people, was invested 
in his stead. 

This martial and magnanimous prince took upon him 
the goverment of the land, in the year of our Saviour 44. 
He was, also, for his great valour, by some authors called 
Armager, who strongly made war upon the Romans, and 
afterwards in a battle slew Hamo, (who had formerly 
cowardly killed his brother) near to an haven or port of 
the sea, and afterwards caused his body to be piecemeal 
cut, and cast into the ocean, for which it was called Harao's- 
Haven, and since Southampton. Claudius, much admir- 
ing the courage of Arviragus, sent to Rome for his daughter 
Gessima, and gave her to him in marriage upon conditions 
of peace ; and to make the solemnities of the nuptials more 
famous, he called the city where they were kept, Claudio 
Cestria, which before was stiied Caerleori, and afterwards 
Glovernia, from a duke called Glovio, but now Glocester. 
After which, Claudius sent a certain number of his legions to 
govern Ireland, and departed towards Rome: Arviragus then 
repaired decayed cities and castles, and ruled with such 
justice and integrity that he enticed to him all the hearts of 
his subjects ; and as his riches, so also increased his pride, 
so that he denied the tribute to Rome, before granted; 
therefore a great duke called Yespatian, was sent from the 
senate, who overcame him in battle, and forced him te 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 17 

become tributary, which some writers affirm was merely at 
the intercession and entreaty of the queen Genissa ; and 
no coaction or constraint from Vespatian, who, after he 
had won the isle of Wight, returned with honor to Rome; 
after which, Arviragus grew more tractable towards the 
Komans, and continued in their great grace and favor: 
who, after he had nobly governed the Brilains for the 
space of SO years, expired, and was interred at Claudio- 
cestria, or Glocester, leaving to succeed him a son ; called 
Marius. 

He was crowned king in the year of our blessed Saviour 
74, a wise and just man, and flourished in great prosperity 
and wealth : in whose time one Loudricus (whom, some 
writers call Rodicus) with a mighty army of Pictg, or 
Scythians, whom some also call Goths, and Huns, land- 
ed in a part of Scotland, wasting and spoiling, whereso- 
ever he came, with iron and fire, whom Marius met in 
battle, and gave him a great overthrow, in which, their 
duke Loudricus was slain: in remembrance of which, 
victory in Stanismore, a place of Westmaria, or West- 
morland, where this battle was fought, he caused a great 
stone or pillar to be erected, upon which was inscribed 
in capital letters, MAR1I VICTORIA. The remnant of the 
army that survived the battle, humbly besought the king 
to allow them some place under his dominions, in which 
to inhabit, who commiserating their case, granted them a 
place in Scotland, called Cathnesse, to whom the Britains 
disdaining to give their daughters in marriage; they -allied 
themselves with the Irish, and were after called Pictavi- 
ans. Marius having thus subdued his enemies, gave him- 
self to study the weal of his subjects, and lived peacea- 
bly his whole life-time after: and lastly, payed his natural 
tribute, and was buried at Carlisle, leaving a son named 
Colius, or Coill. 

Coill was inaugurated in the year of the incarnation 126. 
This Prince had his breeding in Italy amongst the Ro- 
mans, for which reason, there grew great affinity and 
friendship betwixt the two nations, for he became their 
willing tributary : he was very bountiful to all men, by 
which he purchased great love, both from the lords and 
•ommons. He built the town in Essex, called Coilcheiter ? 



18 THE LIFE OF ME*LI2f, 

and when lie had peaceably governed the realm 5i 
years, he died, and was buried at York, leaving a son call- 
ed Lucius, who was inaugurated in the year of grace 
180, who had the honour to be called the first christian 
king of this island, who being a man devoutly given, 
sent to Eleutherius, then bishop of Rome, to be instructed 
in the true faith, who to that purpose, employed two learn- 
ed men, called Fuganus, and Dimianus, who were 
honorably received by this king Lucius, and by whom he 
and a great part of the Britains were converted from Pa- 
ganism and Idolatry to the true Christian belief, which 
happened in the 8th j r ear of his reign, who > after his con- 
version, ordained that all the idolatrous Arch-Flamins, 
and Flamins, should be made arch-bishops and bishops, to 
the number of 3 arch-bishops, and 28 bishops, and should 
have the government of the church lately established. 
These being confirmed by the fore-named bishop of Rome, 
he endowed them with lands and possessions, and conse- 
crated all the Pagan temples to the worship of Christ* 
and when he had peaceably governed the land for the 
space of 12 years, he left this earthly tabernacle for a 
better, and was buried at Glocester : after which, because 
he died without heir, the land grew into great combustion, 
for the term of 50 years, in which none had the absolute 
nomination of king or sovereign. 

Then Severus, the Roman emperor, took upon him thfe 
government of the realm, in the year of grace 208, and 
ruled the kingdom five years; in which time he caused 
a ditch and wall to be made of turfs and stakes, of 122 
miles in length, from Durham to the Scotch sea, during 
which, the Picts with their duke or leader Fulgenius, 
came out of Scotland with a strong army, and destroyed 
much of the country beyond Durham, against whom Se- 
verus (for his conquest of Parthia) sirnamed Parthieus, 
assembled a great host of Romans and Britains, and gave 
them a battle near York, in which he was slain, and 
his army discomfited: and in that city he iyeth interred, 
leaving behind him two sons, namely, Geta and Bassianns. 
This Bassianus was the son of Severus, by aBritish woman, 
and he had Geta by a Roman lady; the Britains there- 
fore made the son of their country-woman their sovereign, 
in the year of grace 212, but the Romans held for Geta; for 
which a mortal war grew betwixt the two Brothers, in 



WITH HIS STKAtfGB PROPHECIES. 19 

which Geta was slain, and Bassianus, was afterwards made 
emperor, having incestuously married his step-mother ; for 
which, and many other tyrannies exercised by him on the 
natives, he grew into great hatred of the people, and was 
slain at a place called Edessa, after he had been empe- 
ror for the space of 7 years. 

In this interim of his reign, one Carassius, a Britain of 
low Ipirth, but eminent in arms, and in the practice of 
martial exercises, obtained of the senate the keeping of 
the coasts and frontiers of the land, and to oppose the 
invasion of all strangers, so that he drew to him many 
hardy knights of the Britains, promising unto them many 
donatives, with honour and office, if they would make 
him king of the land; which so far prevailed with them, 
that they with an unanimous consent proclaimed him their 
sovereign and king, against whom, Bassianus moving 
battle, and to suppress them as rebels, was slain by this 
Carassius, who took upon him the re^al dignity in the 
the year of the incarnation of Christ 218. 

When the Romans had notice of (he death of their 
emperor Bassianus, they sent unto Britain a great captain 
called Alectus/with three legions, to punish the pride and 
rebellion of Carassius, to which captain fortune was so 
favorable, that he chaced him from place to place, and in 
the end slew him in battle, after he had usurped 8 years. 
This Alectus, for his good service done, was made consul 
of Rome, and governor of the land, who hotly pursued 
divers British lords, who had taken part with Carassius 
against the Romans, and exercised great tyranny amongst 
them, so that he grew into hatred and contempt of the 
natives. And therefore they accited one Asclepiodotus, 
duke of Cornwall, who gathered a great host of the Bri- 
tains, and made war against the Romans, chasing them 
from place to place, and country to country ; so that at 
last Alectus was glad to retire himself within the fortifi- 
cations of London, whither Asclepiodotus pursued him, 
and laid siege about the city, provoking him to battle, 
who, at length, issuing out with his forces, many were 
slain on both sides, but in the end, Alectus was slain, after 
k$ had 6 years governed the land, 

€ 2 



20 THE LIFE OF MERLItf, 

When Livius Gallus, a Roman captain, understood the 
death of their general, he, with the survivors of the army, 
retired into the city for his best security, where, for a whil« 5 
I leave him. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER FOURTH. 

The duke of Cornwall made king- of Britain — How Walbrook too\ 
its first name — Constantius the Roman marrieth with Helena, 
daughter to king: Coill, and is made king: — His reign and burial— 
His son Constantius made king after him, who was called the 
Great, aDd was the first Christian emperor — His great devotion, 
and after falling into heresy — Octavian his deputj in Britain, 
usurpeth, and afterwards made king: — Maximinus, a Roman, bj 
marriage with his daughter, succeeds him, &c. 

ASCLEPIODOTUS, duke of Cornwall, began his 
dominion over the Britains, in the year of grace 232, 
who entered the city of London, before by him besieged ; 
where he slew this Livius Gallus, near unto a brook 
which ran then through a part of the city, from whom it 
was called Gallus, or Wailusbrook, and the street Wall- 
brook, even unto these times. Thus havingquite vanquished 
the Romans, he governed the realm in great peace, exer- 
cising justice, exalting meriting and good men, and pu- 
nishing the refractory, and evilly disposed, till at length, 
a great discontent (stirred up by wicked and seditious 
persons) was raised between him and Coillus or Coill, who 
was then earl or duke of Kaircollin, or Colchester, so that 
they assembled their several forces, and met in battle, 
in which conflict Asclepiodotus was slain, after he had 
governed the realm (according to the most writers) 30 
years. 

Then Coill began his dominion over the land in the 
year of the incarnation 262, who governed peaceably for 
a time, for the senate of Rome was glad of the death of 
the former king, who had been a great enemy and persecu- 
tor of their nation, and being then in great trouble among 
themselves, could not conveniently send over fresh forces 
intothe land., but at length their domestick discords being 



WITH fflfl STRAlfGS PROPHECIES. 21 

•empounded, and the state settled in peace, hearing that 
this Coill also denied them the tribute, they sent hither a 
noble and prudent prince, called Constantius, with a 
puissant army, against whom, Coill assembled his Britains, 
but greatly dreading the power of this Roman president, 
he sent to him to commune and treat of peace, with the 
acknowledgment of the tribute due unto the senate, of 
which assurance being given and taken on both sides, Coill 
died within a month after, having governed the Britains 
for the term of 27 years. 

Constantius, at the intercession of the nobles of the 
land, took to wife Helena, daughter to the late king, with 
the entire possession of the realm, and was inaugurated in 
the year 289. This Helena was held to be t lie fairest lady 
in the whole land, and withal very well versed in literature 
and language, by whom he received a son called Constan- 
tine— This Constantine, being of great courage and valour, 
ambitious to add into his dominion, subdued the Almains 
or Germans, and slew of them in battle tiOQOO, and after 
many other victories, the two emperors, Dioclesianus 
and Maximinianus, resigned their imperial dignity to 
Constantius, making one Galerius a partner with him in 
the empire; which these two Caesars divided between 
them. Galerius governed the east, that is, liliricum and 
all Graecia, with the islands; and Constantius Italy, and 
the western kingdoms: afterwards, he subdued Spain, and 
a great part of Gallia or France; of which two kingdoms, he 
made his son Constantine president and governor. In 
the time that Constantius was king of Britain, under the 
two foresaid emperors, St. Alban was martyred at Verulam, 
in the 10th persecution of the church, which began in the 
18th year of Dioclesian, and endured for the space of 
10 years, which was so violent and cruel, that in the space 
of one month were martyred 17000 holy men and women for 
the faith of Christ. This noble prince, Constantius, after 
he had governed Britain and the western part of the empire, 
for the term of 30 years, leaving his successor Constant 
tine, his son, by the famous queen Helena. 

Wko began his reign in the year of grace 319, and at 
the decease of his father was busied in the wars of Gallia, 
but hearing the report of his death, came over into Bri- 
tain, and was made king. He was of a noble and affablt 



fS JHB LIFE OF MERLIHT, 

condition, who, though he was a pagan and disbeliercr, 
yet, he used no tyranny over his subjects, neither com- 
pelled them to the worship of idols, but to use their owft 
laws, with liberty and freedom of conscience: whilst he 
thus governed Britain, with the western part of the empire^ 
one Maxentius, son to Herculeus Maximianus, who way 
partner with Dioclesian in the imperial purple, was, by 
assent of the senate chosen Caesar; who, first insinuated 
with all cunning affabillity into the hearts of the plebeian 
multitude ; but when he found himself strong in their opin- 
ions, he exercised all tyranny that could possibly be devi- 
sed, especially against the christians. He likewise expelled 
his father Maximianus from Rome, who sought to be again 
emperor, with other great oppressions used against the senate 
and prime nobility ; of which, Constantine having intelli- 
gence, he assembled a strong host of Britains and Gauls to 
suppress his great pride and insolence : leaving, in his 
absence, a great duke called Octavius, or Octavian, to 
govern the land of Britain, as his vicegerent or deputy, 

Constantine, having settled the state here, being on his 
journey, he saw, (as in a vision) being on his bed, a cross 
shining in the firmament, held by an angel, who said into 
him, Constantine in hoc signo vinces, that is, O Constan- 
tine, under this sign or banner thou shalt have victory. 
After which, awaking, and considering well of his vision 
or dream, he called his chief captains about him, and 
acquainted them therewith, presently giving order to all 
his ensigns, escutcheons, and banners: being thus accom- 
modated, he marched against the tyrant Maxentius, and 
met him at a bridge, called ^Pont Milvium, where, after a 
long fight, he chased him and his whole army, where a 
great part of them were drowned in the river, with himself 
also, when he had ruled, as Caesar, about 5 years. After 
which victory, Constantine marched to Rome, where he 
was received of the senate and people, with great honour 
and triumph. Soon after, he received the christian faith, 
and was baptized by Sylvester, the first of that name, bish- 
op of Rome ; which done, he opened the prisons, and 
destroyed the temples of the false gods, and dedicated 
others to the true and everliving God, pulling down their 
idols, and opening those christian oratories that had been 
shut, commanding divine service to be said in them. H* 



WITH HIS 8TRANGE PROPHECIES S3 

was the first also, that gave any possessions to the church 
of Rome, and ordained that the bishop of Rome should be 
chief Bishop, and all others should be obedient unto him, 
(which was before any superstition crept into the 
church) he also bore clay and stones upon his shoul- 
ders to the foundation of the great Church dedica- 
ted to St. Peter. , 

Whilst Constantine thus laboured to plant the Christian 
faith, his mother Helena being then in Britain, sent unto 
him commendatory letters, gratulating his great victories, 
in which, she seemed that he had suppressed idols, and 
demolished their temples; but wondered that he had 
chosen for his God, a man who had been nailed to a cross, 
&c. to which, he returned her answer, that he would 
sufficiently prove the God whom he had honoured and 
worshipped, was the Creator of mankind and Maker of 
the world and all creatures therein, and not man only, but 
God and man, &c. For proof of which, after she had assem- 
bled a synod of Jews to the number of 140, Sylvester, with 
other Christian clerks, were appointed to dispute with them 
concerning the faith and gospel; in which arguing the Jews 
were confounded, and she converted, and was a constant 
professor of the true faith and religion all her life-time 
after. I leave what the Legend relates concerning her 
seeking and finding the true cross, and the nails with 
which our blessed Saviour was fastened thereto, and re- 
turned to her son the emperor, who greatly enlarged the 
famous city Byzantium, and beautified it with stately and 
sumptuous buildings, and for the pleasure which he took 
in the situation thereof, made it his royal seat, and caused 
it to be called after his name Constantinople, which is the 
city of Constantine. He was also of such power and 
might in arms, that he purchased to himself the title of 
Constantine the Great. 

He was, moreover, stiled the first Christian emperor, 
and did many things for the upholding of the faith ; of 
which, seven, by a learned author, are especially noted. 
1st, That Christ, our blessed Saviour, should be worship- 
ped as God, throughout his whole dominions. 2ndly f 
That what man or woman soever spake any. blasphemy 
against him, should most severely punished. 3rdly, 
That person who did any violence or injury to a Christian 



*4r .4TW5 LIFE OF MEBLllT; 

man, because he was of that belief, should forfeit half hi* 
goods and possessions. 4thly, That as the emperor of 
Rome is head of all temporal princes, so the bishop of 
Rome should be chief of all ecclesiastical prelates. 5thly, 
That who so fled to a church for refuge, and made it hi* 
sanctuary, should be free from molestation and danger. 
6thly, That go man should offer to erect any church or 
temple without the leave and licence of thebishop of that 
diocese. 7thly, That every prince should give the tenth 
part of his revenues towards the maintenance of churches 
and temples, which law, for example sake, he confirmed 
by contributing unto them from his own possessions. 
After all which care of his, to establish the true faith and 
gospel, he fell into the detestable heresy of the Arians, and 
banished bishop Sylvester beforenamed ; and prosecuted 
many zealous and godly professors, and after which, (as 
mine author amrmeth) he was struck with an incurable 
leprosy. But now 1 return to Octavian, whom he left his 
substitute in Britain. 

Who, during the long absence of the emperor, ruled 
the land to the great content of the natives ; but, when he 
had thoroughly invested himself into the hearts of the 
people, and thinking his lord so far remote, and could not 
easily be drawn from so great a charge as the government of 
both the eastern and western empires, he thought to usurp 
the title of king, and to that purpose distressed such Ro- 
mans as Constantine left here in the land, and so took 
upon him the sole sovereignty ; of which, when the em- 
peror had notice, he sent hither in all haste, a princs 
called Treharne, who was uncle to his mother Helena, 
with three legions of Romans, every legion consisting of 
6600 and six knights, waom Octavian met in battle near 
unto Port Chester, or as some authors write, near Winches- 
ter, and compelled Treharne to forsake the field, aad flj 
towards Scotland, whither Octavian pursued him, and 
gave him a second battle, where he and the Britains were 
discomfited, and himself with some few, took shipping, 
and sailed to Norway, but not long after, he returned 
into England, with a strong army of Britains and Norways, 
in which interim, a British earl who greatly loved Octa- 
vian, slew Treharn, so that with little difficulty he sub- 
dued the rest of the commons, whe ware left without * 



i 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 25 

commander, and repossessed the land, which was from 
the time that Constantine made him governor or protector 
of the Jand ; 10 years. 

Octavian thus re-instated, gathered great riches and 
treasure, insomuch that he feared not the power of ao y 
foreign prince, and ruled the nation in great peace and 
quietness, who, being grown aged and full of years, by 
the counsel of some of his British noblemen, lie sent one 
Mauritius, son to Caradock,'duke of Cornwall, into Rome, 
for an hopeful young gentleman called Maximian, who w n$ 
near allied to Helena the mother of Constantine, that he 
would come into this laud, and bv manrying his on! 7 
daughter, might enjoy the kingdom of iiritain after him. 
Though divers persuaded him to confer that honour up >u 
Conon Meriadock his near cousin, but the former motion 
prevailed. And Maximian the son of Leonine, brother to 
Helen, and uncle to Constantine the Great, was sent over 
with the before-named Mauritius', and with a sufficient 
guard of Romans, landed safely at the port of Southamp- 
ton : which Conon Meriadock hearing, he gathered a 
company of his friends and kinsmen, and because the 
other came to dispossess him of that which he held to be his 
right, he purposed to ambush him in the way, and give him 
battle; which being told to the king, he, by his wisdom 
and power, prevented it, so that Maximian came peaceably 
to court, unto whom the king gave his daughter, and the 
land with her for her dower, and died sdon after, when he 
had nobly and peaceably governed the kingdom for the 
space of 54 years. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER FIFTH. 

Maximian made king of Britain, and after Emperor — How Armo- 
rica came to be calied little Britain, and this, Britain the great 
■■ — Of Ursula, and the eleven thousand Virgins — Gratian the last 
Homan that was king of the land — The great distresses of the 
kingdom — the cessation of their tribute paid to Rome — Constan- 
tine, brother to Aidroenus, made king of the realm, his death 
and issue. 



M 



AXIMIAN the son of Leonine, and. cousin ger- 
raan to Constantine the Great, was made king of 



I ^ 



§6 r THE LIFE OF MERLIK, 

Britain, in the year of ^race 382, who proved a valiant 
anc! victorious prince, but somewhat proud, and withal 
a persecutor of the Christians. And first there was great 
strife betwixt him and Conon, with sundry conflicts, in 
which they spread diversly, but at length they were recon-? 
ciled and made friends. So that he reigned for a time in 
great peace; in which interim, he gathered together much 
treasure and riches: at last he was accited to move 
war against the Gauls, and landed with a great host in 
Armorica, now called littie Britain, which, after he had 
subdued by the sword, he gave it to Conon Meriadock to 
hold of him, and of the kings of great Britain forever; 
commanding from that time Armorica to be called lii- 
tle Britain, and this land Britain the great ; for which 
victory and others, his knights proclaimed him emperor, 
which increased both his pride and tyranny, so that he 
invaded the lands of the empire, and conquered a great 
part both of France and Germany, which was contrary to 
his oath before sworn to the two emperors, Gratian and 
Valentinian; to whom when tidings was brought of this 
his invasion, Gratian prepared to resist him, but fearing 
his power and potency, fledk to Lyons, where he was 
slain, and Valentinian compelled to forsake Rome, and 
fly to Constantinople; then Maximian made his son 
Victor-fellow with him in the empire. 

During whose wars in Italy, Conon Meriadock not wil- 
ling that he, or his people, should marry with any of the 
French Nation, sent messengers to Dionotus duke of 
Cornwall, and governor of the kingdom under Maximian, 
to send him his daughter Ursula, with a certain number of 
Virgins to be coupled to him and his knights in marriage; 
who,* according to his request, sent his daughter with 
] 1000 maids towards Britain to that purpose, who, by 
the way, were taken at sea, and pkeously murdered; who 
so will know the manner thereof, I refer them to the le- 
gend of saints. Maximian thus tyrannizing in Italy, two 
great commanders, called Guanus and Melga, were sent 
into Britain to chastise all such as favoured the party of 
Maximian, who did here much outrage upon the natives, 
afflicting them with great strage and massacre. Against 
whom the emperor sent a great captain called Gracianus 
gr Gracian 5 with two legions, who so knightly behaved 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 87 

himself, that he chaced them in a short space into Ireland, 
holding the land in peace for Maximian. In this interim, 
Maximian continuing wars against (he empire to be ab- 
solute Caesar. Theodosius, surnamed the elder, then em- 
peror of the east part of the world, hearing the death of the 
first Gracian, and the chacing of Wlcnfinian; he with a 
mighty host sped himself to meet will) Maximian, and gave 
him a battle at Aquilea, a great city in Italy, in which 
Maximian's forces were utterly discomfited, and himself 
taken prisoner, whose head Theodosius commanded to be 
cut off; of whose death Gracian his deputy in Britain having 
knowledge, seized the land to his own use; after that 
Maximian had governed the same for the term of 8 years. 

Gracian, who of some writers is called Municeps 
(which word may be diversly taken, either for an hired or 
waged knight, or for a keeper of presents and gifts, or 
bearing chief rule in a city or province) began his domi- 
nion over the Britairis, in the year of grace 390. He 
exercised great exaction and tyranny on his subjects, for 
which he was very much hated and despised amongst 
them, so that they sundry ways laboured his supplanta- 
tion, and hourly insidiated his life; but after many dan- 
gers escaped, they with a common assent invaded his pa- 
lace, and slew him, when he had reigned, or rather usur- 
ped, for the space of 4 years. 

Of whose death Gusfnus and 'Vlelga having knowledge, 
they returned out of Ireland, and with fire and sword 
made great havock in the land, of which the Romans un- 
derstanding, because the realm was then under their tri- 
bute and tuition, they sent one Constantine to have the 
rule of the land^and the regions about. But being found 
to be an enemy to the empire, for divers outrages done by 
him, during his regency in France, therefore, by tfce 
commandment of Honorius (then Caesar) they sent against 
bim a valiant captain, named Constantius, who slew him 
near to a town, called Arelat. After which, the Britain^ 
were much distressed by the Picts, the Scots, and other 
strange nations; by reason whereof, they were again con- 
strained to send to Rome for aid, with a covenant that 
they would all continue subjects and servants to the senate. 
Upon which request and promise, the emperor Honorius 
himself came hither in person, and chaced hence all theif 

d * 



28 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

foreign enemies, and leaving, the land in peace 3 returned 
to his greater affairs in Italy. 

Who no sooner departed, than the same enemies a- 
g^in invaded them, to whom Honorius sent a second 
deliverance, exhorting" them withal to be manly and cou- 
rageous, but in regard of the remoteness of the place and 
the great troubles the empire was then in, to trust to their 
owi\ valour and fortune, but to expect no more supplies 
either from Caesar or senate; the Roman supplies being 
then took out of the land, to maintain the imperial wars, 
the nativies were worse distressed than before, for the Picts 
and Scots came out of their dens and caves, where they 
had concealed themselves, and invaded them by multi- 
tudes; insomuch, that by the enemies spoils and robbe- 
ries, they were brought to that extremity of poverty and 
misery, that they were inforced to pilfer and steal one 
from another; in which sundry murders were also com- 
mitted, so that the ground lay u mowed, or manured, up- 
on which great dearth and hunger immediately ensued. 

Which to prevent, and withal to rid them from these 
great extremities, the best amongst them petitioned unto 
Aetius, (who was master of the chivalry of Honorius the 
emperor, and at that time governed France) to commisse- 
rate their estate, which to him, they most passionately ex- 
pressed; but all was to no purpose, for he slightly put them 
off with & peremptory denial to lend them any succour at all; 
still iheir calamities augmented, and their famine increased, 
so that lastly the noblest and discreetest among them, es- 
pecially the arch-bishop of London, whose name was 
Guethelinus, whom our English chronicle call Gosseline, 
concluded to send an embassy to the king of little Bri- 
tain, whose name was Aldroenus, which this arch-bishop, 
being learned and well spoken in person, undertook, who 
delivered their calamities and distresses with such passion- 
ate efficacy that it wrought great commiseration and com- 
passion in the king; who, after advice taken of his lords, 
granted them a supply of sufficient forces to recover their 
franchises and liberties upon condition, that if God, who 
is the Lord of hosts, gave them victory, they should 
crown his brother Constantine kins; of great Britain, ac- 
knowledffing him their lie^e and sovereign; which con- 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 29 

ditions they gladly accepted, and swore to perform with all 
truth and fidelity. 

Now it appeareth from the time of Gratian, the last 
Roman that was king of the land, the nation of the JBri- 
tains during their multiplicity of miseries, were without a 
monarch or sole sovereign for the space of 39 years, till 
the coming in of the forenamed Constantine, brother to 
Aldroenus, king of Little Britain. 

It is further to be observed, that here ended the tribute 
and dominion of the Romans; neither had any of that 
nation any rule over the land after that time; which tri- 
bute lasted, and was paid to Rome from the ninth year of 
king Cassibelan, to the days of the emperor Severus, 
amounting to 255 years. And from the reign of Severus 
to the first year of Gratian 183; and from the first of 
Gratian to the last year of their great misery (before 
expressed) 43 years; so that from the time that Julius 
Caesar made this isle first tributary to the Roman empire, to 
the coming in of Constantine, amounted to4Sl years. Af- 
ter this small digression, and yet worthy observation, I 
return to the passages and proceeding in this land of Bri- 
tain, and how it w as governed. 

The arch-bishops, with lords of the realm, having 
sealed to the covenants before-named, they returned with 
a sufficient army , under the conduct and command of duke 
Constantine, and safely arrived at Totness, in Devonshire, 
(the place where Brute landed, the first prince and plant- 
er of this island) whither assembled all the flower of the 
nation, who, before were compelled to hide themselves in 
dens and caves, and to seek shelter among rocks and 
mountains ; by whose power and martial progress, all the 
enemies of the land were routed and chaced, not one 
daring to shew his head. After which victory, theland being 
again settled in peace and quietness, they conveyed their 
captain, Constantine, to the tow r er of Xaercegent, now called 
Cicester, and according to their former covenants made 
with Aldroenus, saluted him as their chief lord and sove- 
reign, and there crowned him king in the year of our 
blessed Saviour's incarnation 433. 

This Constantine governed the realm with great man- 



SO THE LIFR OP MERLIN, 

hood and police, so that Ire was not more beloved at home 
than dreaded abroad. Notwithstanding, of any foreign a- 
chievementdoneby him, the English Annals make no men- 
tion, neither of any memorable thing performed by him in 
his own kingdom, save that he kept it in great tranquillity 
and rest, and that he received by his wife three sons, the 
eldest named Constant or Constantius, the second Aurelius 
Ambrosins, the third Uterpendragon, all which in process 
succeeded him in the sovereignty : but for Constant the el- 
dest, being somewhat heavy and dullwitted, thinking him 
not able to take upon him any regal sovereignty, especially 
to g'-vern so noble a nation, lie caused him to be shorne a 
monk, and put him into the monastery of saint Amphiable, 
afterwards called saint Swithins at Winchester, and the other 
two being then but young children, he committed to guard- 
ianship of the before-remembered Gosselin, arch-bishop of 
London. In the court of this Constantine was a certain 
Pict or Scot, much favoured by the king, and on whom he 
had conferred many graces and honours, making him of 
his closet counsel, and a partaker with him in all his 
secrets, which perfidious and ungrateful traitor, watching 
his opportunity, slew him in his chamber when he had 
ruled the land ten years. 

There lived at that time in the land a potent duke called 
Vortigerus, or Vortigernus, who was a man wonderously 
politick, and exceedingly ambitious; who taking the ad- 
vantage of the time, knowing the stupidity of the eldest son 
and the inability of the two younger, (in regard of their 
minority) to reign, he coloured his aspiring to the crown 
by a notable project, for he pretending the right of the el- 
dest brother, had it as a matter of conscience to make him 
king; and therefore took him out of the former monastery, 
and invested him in the throne, in the year of grace 443; by 
which means he had the sole management of the whole king- 
dom and Constantine, the name only, whom, after, he, in a 
short time, supplanted, and reigned in his stead; in whose 
days Ambrosius Merlinus, the subject of our discourse, 
was born and uttered his predictions, &c« 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPIIECIEI. 31 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER SIXTH. 

A necessary digression shewing- the lives and reigns of 33 kings of 
Britain, scarcely mentioued by any of our English remeinbran* 
cers, with an exact computation of the times, &c. 

TO make the former passages the more plain to th« 
reader, it is fit to keep a true computation of thetimes, 
and looking back into our former historical narration, per- 
fect those things which were left doubtful, especially in the 
Inter- regnum before spoken of; in which the names of ma- 
ny kings, princes, and governors of the kingdom were con- 
cealed. Divers historiographers, who write the passageg 
of those times, reckon from the last year of Eliodure, to 
the first of Hely, the father of king hud, 186 years; due- 
ling which times, here reigned 33 kings, (according to 
Galfridus and others) whose names thus follow, Gorbo* 
vi (whom Lanqnet the chronicler calleth Reniangay) son 
to Gorbomanus, reigned fa* the term of 10 years, after him, 
Morgan, M years, whom succeeded Einerianus,orEmerian f 
"who held the principality seven years, lual, called also 
Ival, followed him, and swayed the sceptre 20 years; 
after whom came Rimo, and held (he dominion over the 
Briiains 16 years; after whose expiration, Geruntius, was, 
by the general suffrage of the peers and people, admitted 
to the throne, and governed in great peace and prosperity 
20 complete years i who, no sooner expired, but they 
fnade election of Catellus or Catel, who ruled without any 
great molestation or disturbance 10 years, and then left 
the dominion to Coill, who ruled with great humanity and 
gentleness for the space of 20 years, and dying in a mature 
age, yielded up the crown and sceptre into the hands of 
Porrex, who kept and maintained them, though with some 
difficulty, five years, resigned the principality to Cherimus, 
who tyrannizing over the people, was supplanted, being 
compelled to yield up all his power and authority, after 
he had governed but 12 months, into the hands of Fulgen, 
or Fulgentius, who kept it peaceably, and, to the great 
liking and applause both of the peers and commons, three 
years and some odd months, who had no sooner yielded 
to the common fate, due to all mortality, but Eliud, by 
some writers called Eldred, stepped info his room, but 
enjoyed it but for a season, for be died within the compass 



32 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

of one year, after he came to take upon him the sove- 
reignty. 

Then Androgeus aspired into the regal dignity, but* 
bore him so proudly and haughtily in his sovereignty, 
that his subjects unanimously consented and made an insur- 
rection against him, surprizing him in his palace, and 
forcing him to give up his sword and sceptre, after he had 
tyrannized one whole year, to his son Urian, who sat on 
the throne but three years, and then yielded up his due to 
nature, after whom Eliud was invested in the state, who 
(as the rest of his predecessors) left little or nothing behind 
him worthy of memory, and when he had been king five 
years, departed this life; Galfrid us reckoneth three other 
kings successively to follow Eliud, namely, Dedacus, 
Cloterus, and Gurguintus, but Lanquet (an author well 
approved) will not admit them into his chronicle, I, there- 
fore, proceed with the rest. 

It is agreed by all, that Merianus was king, and two 
years enjoyed the principality, but of what condition he 
was, there is left no memory to posterity. Four years 
also reigned his successor JSledinus, whom some call 
Eladunus, a man raised to that honour by his valour, but 
being descended from obscure parents, and therefore 
not knowing himself well in his greatness, (as is commonly 
seen by many) it was the cause of shortening both of his 
life and sovereignty, for he was slain by the treason of his 
own servants; of whose treacherous murder, Capenus 
taking advantage, being a potent lord, and in great 
opinion with the people, he so far insinuated into their 
affections, that, with an unanimous suffrage, they pro- 
claimed him king, (for his predecessor died, and left no 
heir behind him) in which authority he demeaned him- 
self like a royal and worthy prince, and when he had 
swayed the sceptre three years, he died, being very aged, 
and much lamented. 

Him succeeded one Owen, a Cambrian Briton, who, 
though he could neither claim the privilege of blood, 
birth, or title, yet being valiant, prosperous in all his 
martial employments, as managing the wars under Cape- 
rius, by whom he was greatly honoured, being also 



WITH HIS STHANGB PROPHECIES. 33 

politic and wise, and a good soldier, so a discreet states- 
man, he was thought the worthiest then in the kingdom to 
take upon him the dominion of the realm, and so ended 
some troubles raised in his predecessor's days, by his 
valour and wisdom he brought to a happy issue, and so 
died a single man, after he had two years governed the 
kingdom. Next to him was inaugurated Sisilius, other- 
wise called Cecilius, who bore himself with great humanity 
and affability during the time of his living, a subject study- 
ing popularity, and by sundry ways insinuating himself 
into the hearts of the people, but when he came to the regal 
title, and that the power and sovereignty was wholly at 
his own disposal, he then began to express his natural ava- 
riatious conditions, by exacting on the commons, impo- 
sing divers taxes and tributes upon them, by which they 
were sore vexed and grieved, insomuch that a rumour was 
raised amongst them, whicli they first only whispered, but 
at length, animated by their intolerable impositions, they 
feared not to clamour aloud that their former king died, 
not without suspicion of poison, of which they spared not to 
accuse him, not only as an accessary, but the prime causer 
and procurer thereof: and therefore, rising in arms against 
him, they drove him to that narrow exigent, that he was 
forced to fly from one place of refuge to another ; who, at 
length, gathering some few forces about him, gave them 
battle, in which he was slain, after he had governed the 
kingdom two years; after whom, Blegabredus reigned in 
his stead ; this man had in him more music than majesty, 
for he was held most excellent both in minstrelsey and 
poesy, so that^he seemed to be a son, or at least minion of 
Apollo, for he not only composed his own hymns and 
ditties, but set them, and then sung aud played to them, 
and because it was an art rare in those times, and prac- 
tised by few, especially by any of generous condition and 
quality, being excellent and eminent in a prince, he was 
therefore by it the more honoured and admired, who, 
having swayed the sceptre 20 years, departed this life, 
leaving to succeed him his brother Archemail, who was 
of a more stern and robustuous nature, a man unlettered, 
and therefore a contemner of all arts and sciences, who, 
after he had governed the realm two years, (but witk 

E ' 



34 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

more austerity and rigour than his brother before him had 
done) in a full age expired. 

After him reigned Eldon, or Eldol, no son, but a 
kinsman (for the two brothers died issueless) who was a 
man of peace, therefore the more endeered into the 
hearts of his subjects, under whose reign they lived 
in great rest and prosperity, gathering great store of 
wealth about them, during the four years of his reign, 
after which season, he changed this life for a new, being 
much lamented of his people, after whose death, stept up 
into the throne, Rodrech, or Rodian, a man not (like his 
predecessor) beloved, as being litigious, and always in 
contention with the commons, as holding them in con- 
tempt, only favouring the nobility and gentry, and to 
prefer and advance them, greatly oppressed the other, 
extorting from them by sundry exactions, for which he 
grew into great hatred amongst them : of which, having 
intelligence, he thought severely to punish them by arms, 
but was prevented by death, after he had governed the 
kingdom not fully four years. In his place reigned 
Samuel Pennisel, whom some writers would make two 
men, (but their judgments are not altogether approved) 
this man, with great care and industry, sought and 
laboured to pacify the tumults and combustions before 
raised, and to that purpose, kept the nobility and gentry 
more short, so that he suffered them not, as before, to 
insult and tyrannize over the country, but granted to 
them sundry immunities and privileges, for which, he 
was greatly beloved by them, but left the world, after he 
had five years swayed the sceptre ; whom Pyrphyrus 
next suceeecls, a man much affected by the people, and 
fortunate iu all things, saving his short reign, who died 
after two years sovereignty. ' 

Capoyr came next to the crown, and governed an equal 
time with them, of whom no memorable thing is recorded, 
for in two years reign, a prince hath scarcely time to express 
himself, what manner of king he would be, whether a 
tyrant, or father of his people, whether addicted to peace 
or war; he left one to succeed him named Gligurt Di- 
lillj who was a prince very sober and discreet in all his 
actions, and was an upright justicer, maintaining good 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 35 

laws in his dominions, but reigned four years only. His 
son Hely succeeded him, before spoken of, so that all the 
time of these several kings' reigns, by those, who write 
contemporaries of the passages of seasons, and sought to 
reconcile them, by their computation, amounteth to 121 
years. Thus, desiring the reader to excuse this necessary 
digression, without which, there must needs be a great 
maim in the chronicle. 1 now fall punctually upon Mer- 
lin's prophecies, continuing them, and confirming their 
truth by chronology, from the time in which he uttereth 
them, to the reign of king Charles, our royal lord and 
sovereign, &c. 



e 2 






TRUE HISTORY 

or THE 

STRANGE BIRTH 

OF 

AMBHOSIUS MERIIN, 

AND HIS 



a 



A TRUE HISTORY, &c. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER FIRST. 



Of the birth of Merlin, sur- 
aamed Ambrosius, whether he 



was a Christian or no, and bj 
what spirit he prophecied. 



TO prophets there be several attributes given, some are 
called prophetae, some vates, others videntes; that 
is, prophets, predictors and seers, and these have been 
from all antiquity. The name of prophets was, and 
ought to be peculiar to those that dealt only in divine 
mysteries, and spake to the people the words which the 
Almighty did dictate unto them concerning those things 
which should futurely happen, and such also are called 
in the holy text seers ; but vates was a title promiscuously 
conferred on prophets and poets, as belonging to them 
both : of the first were Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Je- 
remiah, Daniel, and the rest, whose divine oracles were 
extant in the old Testament, others there were in the 
time of the gospel, as John the Baptist, of whom our Sa- 
viour himself witnesseth, that he was not only a prophet, 
but more than a prophet ; and we read in the Acts 
of the Apostles, Chap. 1 1, 27. And in those days also came 
prophets from Jerusalem to Antiochia. And there stood 
up one of them called Agabus, andt signified by the 
spirit, that there should be great famine in all the world, 
which came to pass under Claudius Ccesar. Of the vati- 
cal or prophetical poets among the Greeks, were Orpheus, 
Linus, Homer, Hesiod, &c. and amongst the Latins, 
Publius, Virgiiius, Maro, with others. a 

But, before 1 come to enquire in which of those lists, 
this, our countryman, Merlin, whose surname was Ambro- 
sias, ought to be filed. It is needful thatl speak something 



40 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

of his birth and parents. Kis mother being certain, but 
his father doubtful, (for so our most ancient Chronologers 
have left them) that is, whether lie were, according to na- 
ture, begot by a man and a woman, or according to his mo- 
ther's confession, that he was conceived by the compres- 
sion of a fantastical spiritual creature, without a body, 
which may be easily believed to be a mere fiction, or ex- 
cuse to mitigate her fault, (being a royal Virgin, the 
daughter of king Demetius) or to conceal the person of her 
sweetheart, by disclosing of whose name she had undoubt- 
edly exposed him to imminent danger; and this is most 
probable, And yet we read that the other fantastical 
congression is not impossible: for Speusippus, the son of 
Plato's sister, and Elearchus the Sophist, and Amaxilides, 
in the secoEd book of his philosophy, affirm in the honour 
of Plato, that his mother, Perictione, having congression 
with the imaginary shadow of Apollo, conceived, and 
brought into the world him who proved to be the prince of 
philosophers. 

Apuleius also, in his book, intitled, De Socratis Dcemo- 
nio, of Socrates his Damon, or Genius, w rites at large, that 
betwixt the moon and the earth spirits inhabit, called In- 
ciibi, of which opinion Plato was also, who saith, That 
their harbour was between the moon and the earth, in the 
moist part of the air. A kind of Daemons which he thus 
defines; a living creature, moist, rational, immortal and 
passible, whose property is to envy men; because to that 
place from whence they were precipitated, by their pride, 
man by his humility is preferred: and of these, some are 
so libidinous and luxurious, that sometimes taking humane 
shape upon them, they will commix themselves with wo- 
men, and generate children, from whence they have the 
name of InOubi, whom the Komans called Fauni, and Si- 
carii: and of such St. Augustine, in his book, De civitate 
Dei, makes mention. 

It further may be questioned, Whether he was a Christ- 
ian or a Gentile? as also by what spirit he prophesied? a 
Pythonick or Divine; that is, by the devil, who spake de- 
lusively in the oracle of Apollo; or by holy and celestial 
revelation ? For the first, it is not to be doubted but he was 
a Christian, as being of the British nation. This kingdom 
Laving for ihe space of 200 and odd years before his birth, 



WITH HIS STRANGE FHOPHECIES* 41 

received the Gospel under king Lucius, the first king of 
this land, by the substitutes of Pope Eleutherius, by whose 
preaching, the king, and a great part of his people, quite 
renounced all pagan idolatry, and were baptized into the 
Christian faith. But by what spirit he so truly predicted, 
is only known to the God of all spirits, whn, in every na- 
tion and language, pick'd out some choice persons, by whose 
mouths he would have uttered things which should tutu re- 
ly happen to posterity, according to his divine will and 
pleasure; and amongst these was this our Merlin. To 
prove the former, 

Holy Job was but a Gentile, a man of the land of 
Chus, v yet none of the holy prophets of the Lord did 
more plainly, more faithfully, and more pathetically cic- 
knowledged Christ and the resurrection than himself, when 
he saith in a most raptured emphasis: Job 19 v. 23. O 
that my words were now written! O that they were printed 
in a book! thai they were graven with an iron pen and 
lead, in the rock for ever! For I know that my Redeemer 
I'rceth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the 
earth. And though after my skin, worms destroy this 
body, yet in my flesh shall J see God: whom I shall 
see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not ano' 
ther; though my reins be consumed within me. 

Neither was this any wonder in blessed Job, whose like 
for holiness and uprightness of life, was not to be found upon 
the face of the whole earth ; when even ail the Sibils w ho 
were Prophetesses and Virgins, and Gentiles of several na- 
tions, (for so Varro affirms) predicted not only of the in- 
carnation, passion, and death of our blessed Saviour, but 
of his second corning to judgment, of the consummation 
and dissolution of the world, the resurrection of nil flesh, 
the glory of the saints, and the condemnation of the re- 
probates; especially Sibylla Cumana, whom the renowned 
doctors of the church, and more especially saint Augus- 
tine, quoted in her prophecies, and not thought them alto- 
gether unworthy to be remembered in their works; of 
which also, Virgil makes mention in his 4th Eclogue: 
in which saint Augustine himself witnesseth that be (though 
an heathen) predicted the incarnation of our blessed Sa- 

F 



4$ THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

viour; for he insinuates, that he is to speak of a great mys- 
tery in his first words, which are these: 

Sicelides Musce, paulo majora canamus. 

As speaking to the Muses, or invocating their assistance, 
that he is now to sing of more stupendious and high things: 
and a little after, it followed],, 

Ultima jam xenit Cumcei carminis cetas: 

That is, now is fulfiled the prophesy ofSibylla Cumana 
(so called fromCuma, once a famous city in Greece, where 
she was born) he further proceedeth, 

Magnus ab integro seclorum xohkur ordo, 
Jam redit 8? xirgc, redeunt Saturnia regna^ 
Jam noxa progenies coelo demittiiur alto. 

Intimating in those words, that by revolution, the great 
order and course of the world should feel a change, which 
was not from the beginning, and that now the celestial 
maid (which figured justice) or the mother of the most 
righteous should return, and that we should see again 
those innocent and blessed days, which were in the reign 
of Saturn, (which was called the golden world) and that 
a new birth should be sent down to the earth from the 
highest heaven, meaning our blessed Saviour, God and 
man, born of the immaculate virgin Mary : nay, further 
in the two subsequent verses, he implies, that he came to 
take away the sins of the world, which are these: 

Quo duce^ si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostn\ 
Irritaperpetua sohent formidine terras. 

So much for Virgil. There are divers other prophets 
of the Gentiles, both men and women, as Cassandra, 
Chrysis, Phiomaene, &c. And what shall we think of 
Balaam ? whose oracles Moses inserted in the sacred text y 
and w hose prophecies the great clerks and doctors of the 
church, have expounded in large voluminous works ; yet 
for his person, some have held him for no better than a 
soothsayer or a wisard. and hired for a reward to curse 
the children of Israel, God's selected people : and they 



WITH HIS 1TRANGB PROPHECIES. 43 

by his counsel after inticed to fornication and idolatry, of 
whom the blessed apostle saint Peter, in the second Chap- 
ter of his second Epistle, and fourteenth verse, gives him 
this character (speaking of such whose hearts were exer- 
cised in covetousness, and children of the curse) who,for- 
saking the right way have gone astray, following the 
way of Balaam , the son of Bosor^ who loved the wages 
of unrighteousness^ but he was rebuked for his iniquity: 
for the dumb beast speaking with man's voice, forbade 
the foolishness of the prophet. These former examples 
may beget an hesitation or doubt, by which of the two 
spirits, the good or bad, our countryman, Merlin, uttered 
his prediction. 

But whosoever shall make question of the true events of 
his prophecies, 1 shall refer him to the reading of that most 
excellent orator, Polyhistor, and theologist of his time, Al- 
anus de Insulis, a German doctor, for his admirable and 
multifarious learning, sirnamed Universalis, and rector of 
the Parisian academy, in his explanation or comment up- 
on Merlin's Prophecies; the original being extracted out of 
JefFery of Monmouth, part of his words are these: " In all 
his prophecies I find nothing dissonant, incongruous^ or 
absurd, nor any thing foreign, or averse from truth. And 
those who shall live in ages to come, shall find those his pre- 
dictions as constantly to happen in their days (according 
to the limit of time) as we have hitherto found them certain 
and infallible, even to the age in which we now live." And 
for these signs and tokens which before the consummation 
of the world skall appear, he divineth and foretelleth of 
them in the sun and moons, and the other five planets; 
Juno, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and ofher stars, 
how they shall confound and alter their courses which 
they had in the creation, according to that in the holy evan- 
gelist saint Luke, chap. 21. v. 25. I4 Then there shall be 
signs in the sun and the moon, and in the stars ; and upon 
the earth trouble amongst the nations with perplexity, the 
sea and the waters shall roar, and men's hearts shall fail 
them for fear, and for looking after those things which 
shall come in the world, for the powers of heaven shall be 
shaken, &c." But of the new heaven and the new earth, 
and the resurrection of the dead to new life, how truly he 

f 2 



44 fH« LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

spake according to the prophetical, evangelical, and apos- 
tolical traditions ; it is manifest, that he no way deviated or 
erred from the orthodoxal Christian faith; and so much 
doctor Alarms concerning the truth of his prophecies, with 
whom I conclude this first chapter. 



- »l ■■■IN ■■■«! 

mm 1 1. 1^1 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER SECOND. 



In whose reign Merlin was 
born. How the state of Bri- 
tain stood in those days, with 



dirers necessary Occurrences 
pertinent to the Story, 



THE better to illustrate this our history of Merlin, (the 
subject now in agitation) it is necessary that I shew 
you in what king's reign he was born; in what state the 
kingdom stood at that time; aid how our prophet came to 
be first known in court. He was born in the reign of 
king Vortigern, who, by usurpation, aspired to the crown; 
who, being a potent duke of the Britains after the death of 
Constantius, took his son Constantine out of a monastery 
(being a simple man and uncapable of so great a charge, 
and made him king) so that duke Vortigern, being a 
popular man, had the whole government of the land, 
and Constantine only the name of king, who, taking advan- 
tage of his sovereign's easy nature and mild disposition, 
cast in histhoughts how, by the death of his lord and master, 
to compass the crown to himself; and to accomplish his 
ambitious design, he placed as a guard about him an hun- 
dred Picts and Scots, whom he so bribed with continual 
gifts and rewards, that they feared not openly to say that 
Vortigern better deserved the emperial dignity than Con- 
stantine; in which interim, he got into his possession all 
the treasure, howsoever divers thereat grudged; and the 
strangers in hope to purchase his greater favour, took their 
opportunity to lay violent hands upon the king, and pre- 
sented his head to Yortigern, being then at London. 

Who, in his crocodile coming, and to blind the eyes of 
the Britains, to make them think he had no hand in his 
death, wept exceedingly, and made great shew of sorrow; 
and to express his great justice, caused all those honour- 
ed knights to be beheaded according to the laws of the 
kingdom, by which he was held both by the peers and 



46 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

people innocent of the treason ; but those that had the guard- 
ianship of the king's two younger brothers, Aurelius and 
liter, the one sirnamed Ambrosius, the other Pendragon, 
fearing the power and potency of Vortigern, fled with them 
into little Britain, where they continued: yet it pleased 
God otherwise to dispose of them. 

Then was Vortigern, by a general and unanimous 
consent crowned king in the year of the incarnation of 
our blessed Saviour 44S ; but it was not long ere the 
Picts and Scots, having knowledge of tile death of their 
countrymen, invaded the land with great hostility, in so 
much that he was no way able to withstand their ma- 
lice and fury: in this great distress, retiring himself 
to Canterbury; news was brought him of their great 
ships, full of ammunition and armed men, landed in the 
isle of Tenet. At first he feared that they were the late 
king's brothers, Ambrose and Uter, who came to lay claim 
to the kingdom, but finding them to be strangers, he sent 
to know of what nation they were, and the purpose of their 
landing? who returned him answer, that they were Saxons, 
so called of a province in Germany; who came to seek 
adventures abroad ; and, since fortune had brought them 
into this land, they besought him to receive them into 
service, as being both ready and able to be his faithful 
soldiers, and to fight for him in the defence of his country 
against all foreign invaders, and their captains were two 
brothers, Hengist and Horsus. 

The king, in regard of his present necessity, which, 
much moved him to correspondency, was exceedingly 
glad of their liberal proffer, and accepted of them ; yet, 
sorry that they were miscreants, and of the pagan belief; 
for, as the Reverend JBede bath left recorded, with 
Gulielmus de Regibus. They, at that time, worshipped 
an idol or false god, called Woden, and a goddess named 
Fria, in the honour ot which god, they called one day of 
the week Woden's-day, which we term Wednesday; and 
another, in honour of the goddess Fria, Frisday, by us still 
continuing the name Friday. But, it followeth in the 
story, Vortimer, by the aid of these Saxons, having freed 
his land from all foreign enemies. Hengist, in reward for 
his former service, demanded of the king so much ground 
as the hide of a bull would compass; which request 
appeared to the king so reasonable, that he easily granted 



WITH HIS ITRANGB PROPHECIES, 47 

it ; which skin, he caused to be cut into small and slender 
thongs, with which he measured a large circuit of earth, 
upon which he built a great and strong tort, which he called 
Thonge Castle, which standeth in the county of Linsey. 

When news arrived in Germany of the plenty and good- 
ness of this land, with all the commodities thereto belong- 
ing, they came hither in multitudes, covenanting with the 
Britains, that they should only intend : eir tillage and 
husbandry, and themselves would, as their soldiers, defend 
the land from all incursions and invasions, demanding for 
that service only competent means and wages ; in which 
interim, Hengist sent for sixteen sail more, well furnished 
with men, and all necessary provision. In which fleet 
came also his daughter Rowen, a beautiful lady ; concern- 
ing 1 whom, to cut off all circumstances, Hengist invited 
the king to his new castle, where his fair daughter gave 
him entertainment, with whose beauty he became so 
surprised, and perditely enamoured, that for her sake, he 
repudiated his lawful wife, by whom he had three noble 
sons, Vortimerus, Catagrinus, and Pascentius, to marry 
with this young Saxon lady ; and that he might enjoy 
her, gave to her father the dukedom or province of Kent, 
though Garagonus, then lord thereof, with divers other* 
©f the British peers, thereat much grudged. 

For which, and many other honours and revenues 
conferred upon the Saxons, as also, that he left his own 
Christian consort, to many with an infidel, and that 
Hengist had sent for his son Octa to come over with a 
fresh supply of his countrymen. The lords of Britain, 
considering what dangers were likely to fall upon the 
land, assembled themselves, and coming to the king, laid 
open to him the inconvenience and peril which was 
likely to fall both upon himself and the kingdom, by the 
multitude and strength of these strangers, humblv beseech- 
ing him for their general security, to banish them all, or 
the greatest part of them, from the land. But the king was 
deaf of that ear, for the Saxons were in such favour with 
him, by reason of his beautiful young queen, that he 
preferred them before the love of his own wife, sons, sub- 
jects, kinsmen, and friends; wheretore, the Britains, witn 
one will and assent,* crowned his eldest son, Vortimer, king; 
depriving him of all regal dignity, when he had fully 
reigned (after the consent of the best historians) 16 years. 



48 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

i 

A word or fwo by the way of our new king Vortimer, 
who, assisted by the resolute Brifains, in all haste, pursued 
the Saxons, and gave them a great battle upon the river Der- 
went, in which the Saxon's host was quite discomfited. 
He fought with them a second upon the ford called Epiford, 
or Aglisthorpe, in which fight Catrignus, the brother of 
Voriimer, and Horsus, the brother of Hengist, meeting in 
the battle, iought together a brave isombat, and slew each 
other, in which the Britains also were victors ; he gave 
them a third, near untothe sea-side, in which the Saxons 
were chaeed, and forced them to take the isle of Wight 
for their refuge ; and likewise, a fourth main battle upon 
Colemore, which was long and courageously maintained 
by the Saxons, by reason that they now closed a great 
part of their host so defensively, that the Britains could 
but with much difficulty approach them, for the danger of 
their shot; yet, in the end, they were routed, and many of 
them drowned and swallowed in the moor. And besides 
these four principal and main battles, he had divers other 
conflicts with them, one in Kent, another at Thetford in 
.Norfolk, a third in Essex, near unto Colchester, from all 
which fields, he departed a glorious victor; neither did he 
leave their pursuit, till he had deprived them of all their 
possessions in the land, save the isle of Tenet, which he 
continually assaulted with his navy by sea; which, when 
his step-mother, Rowen, saw, and how much her father, 
Hengist, with his Saxons, by his martial powers were 
distressed, she used such means that he was poisoned, after 
he had victoriously governed the kingdom for the space 
of seven years. 

All which time Yortigern, the father of the late dead Vor- 
timer, lived privately in Chester, where he so well demean- 
ed him towards the king, his son, by aiding him with his 
counsel and otherwise, that by the Britains' general as- 
sent, he was again restored to the kingdom. Hengist again 
pierced Hie land with a mighty host of his countrymen, 
which Vortigern, hearing, made towards him with his army 
of Britains. But Hengist, who had before tasted of their 
hardness and courage, made means of a treaty for peace, 
whence, lastly, it v»as concluded, that a certain number of 
Britains, arid as many Saxons should meet upon a May- 
day, weaponless, upon the plain oi Salisbury, on which pre- 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 49 

fixed day, Hengist bethought him of a strange and per- 
fidious treason, charging all his Saxons, that every one 
should put a long knife in his hose, and when he gave this 
watch-word, Out with your Saxes, they should suddenly 
fall upon the unarmed Britains, and kill thern to one man; 
briefly, they met at the time and place appointed, where 
Hengist and his Saxons received him and his power with 
a countenance of peace and love; but they had not long 
spoken together when Hengist giving the watch- word. The 
Britains were basely and barbarously butchered, unless any 
by his manhood and strength wrest the knife from his ene- 
my, and defend himself: amongst the British lords was one 
Edolf earl of Chester, who (as Gunfride affirms) seeing his 
friends and fellows thus murdered, he found a stake by 
a. hedge lying on the ground, with which he not only 
saved his own life, but slew seventeen of the opposite 
side, and got safely into the city of Salisbury; after which 
treason executed, the king remained with Hengist as 
prisoner. 

Hengist by his treason, having thus gotten the upper 
hand, and retaining the king in his power and custody, he 
compelled him to give him three provinces in the east part 
of Britain, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, to which 
some add Essex, &c. of which being safely possessed, he 
suffered the king to go at large, sending for some other of 
his kinsmen to take possession of other provinces in the 
kingdom, crowning himself king of Kent, and from his 
own name, caused th : s realm to be called Hengist's land, 
or (as we now pronounce it) England. And the Saxons 
now spreading and quartering themselves in the best and 
most fertile soils of the land, as having the sovereignty 
over London, York, Lincoln, Winchester, with most of 
the principal cities in the realm. The Saxons still in- 
creasing in multitude and power, and the Britains daily 
decreasing, both in number and strength, Vortigern 
was forced to fly or retire himself into Wales, where 
{after some writers) thinking to fortify himself, he began 
to lay the foundation of a castle, calied Generon, or 
Gwayneren, on the west side of the river Grana, upon an 
hill called Cloaricus. But what success lie had in the 
building thereof, and how Merlin came first to be known to 

UMBER 11. G 



50 THB LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

the king, with part of his prophecies, I will refer to thft 
subsequent chapter; giving withal, the intelligent peruser 
of this story, to better his knowledge, this item ; that 
without the laying open of the true passage of those times, 
(which I have as briefly as possible 1 could in the pre- 
mises) these our prophet's predictions, which now seem 
plain and easy, would have been much more intricate^ 
and hard to be understood. 



IBS 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTEit THIRD. 



By what miraculous acci- 
dent young Merlin came to be 
known to king Vortigern: of 



the combat betwixt the red and 
the white dragon, and his pro*, 
phecy thereof. 



WHEN Vortigern's architectures had caused the hill 
to be digged, and the foundation to be laid, on 
which, to erect this new structure, after the weak men had 
digged the circuit of the place, where the great stones were 
to be set in order, they were no sooner laid in the hollow 
of the earth, but they instantly sunk down, and wereswaU 
lowed lip, and no more seen. At which the workmen won- 
dered, and the king himself was much astonished, and the 
more proofs they made, the greater cause of admiration 
they had; especially the situation being upon an hill, and 
no moorish or uncertain ground. Therefore the king com- 
manded a cessation from the work for the present, and sent 
to the bards and wisards (of which that age afforded plen- 
ty) to know a reason of that prodigy, or at least what it 
might portend ; who, being gathered together, and long 
consulted amongst themselves, and not finding by any na- 
tural or supernatural reason, what the cause thereof might 
be, concluded in the end, to save their credit, and to 
excuse their ignorance, to put the king off with an impos- 
sibility ; and when he came to demand of them what they 
had done in the matter, they returned him this answer, 
that those stones could never be laid together, or the place 
built upon, till they were cemented with the blood of a 
man-child, who was born of a mother, but had no man 
to his father. 

With this answer the king was satisfied, the soothsayers 
departed from him (not meanly glad that they had put 

g 2 



5S THE LIFE OF MERLIK, 

him off, according to our English word, with a flam or de*» 
liremen!) without any disparagement to their art and cun- 
ning, who no sooner left his presence, but the king called 
his servants about him, commanding them to ride and 
search into, and through all provinces and countries till 
they could find such a one as the wisards had spoken of, 
anti by fair or foul means to bring the party unto him, but 
not acquainting him with the cause, but that the king seeing 
such a one, would send him back richly and bountifully 
rewarded, Having received this commission (or rather im- 
position) from the king their master, we leave them to their 
several adventures, every one of them being sufficiently 
accommodated for so uncertain a journey. 

One of them amongst the rest happened to come to a 
town or city called Caer- Merlin, which implies Merlin's 
town or Merlin's borough, which there is no doubt the 
same which we call to this day Caermarthen, but my author 
terms it a city; at whose gates the messenger of the king' 
arriving, it happened that a great many young lads were 
sporting themselves without the walls; and of the company, 
two of them in earning fell out, the one young Merlin, the 
other called Dinabutius, who, amongst other breathing 
words, cast into Merlin's teeth, that he was but some moon- 
calf, as born of a mother, who knew not his father: the. 
servant taking notice of this language, presently demanded 
what he was, and who were his parents? who returned 
him answer, that for any father he had, they knew r none, 
but his mother was daughter to king Demetius, and lived 
a votaress in that city, in a nunnery belonging to the church 
of St. Peter: who presently went to the chief magistrates, 
and shewed his commission from the king, which they 
obeying, sent both the mother and son under his conduct,, 
to attend the pleasure of his Majesty. 

Of w hose coming the king was exceeding joyful, and 
when they appeared before him (both ignorant of the occa- 
sion why they were sent for) the king first asked her, if 
that were her natural son? who replyed that he was, and 
born of her own body; he then desired to know by what 
father he was begot ? to which she likewise answered, that 
she never had the society of any one mortal or human, only 
a spirit assuming the shape of a beautiful young man, had 
many times appeared unto her, seeming to court her with 



WITH MIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 53 

no common affection, but when any of her fellow-virgins 
came in, he would suddenly disappear and vanish, by 
whose many and urgent importunities, befog at last over- 
come, I yielded, saith she, to his pleasure, an 1 was com- 
prest by him, ami when my full tune ofteeriifing came, I 
was delivered of this son (now in your presence) whom I 
caused to be called Merlin. Which words were uttered 
with such modesty and constancy, Considering withal the 
royalty of her birth, arid the strictness of the order (in which 
she now lived) that the king might the more easily be in- 
duced to believe that whatsoever she spoke was truth. 

When, casting his eye upon Merlin, he began to appre* 
hend strange promising things in his aspect, as having a 
quick and piercing eye, an ingenious and gracious coun- 
tenance, and in his youthful face a kind of austerity and 
supercilious gravity, which took in him such a deep im- 
presssion,that he thought his blood too noble to be mingled 
with the dust and rubbish of the earth, and therefore instead 
of sentencing him to death, and .commanding him to be 
slain, he opened unto htm the purpose he ha I to build 
this castle, and the strange and prodigious impediments, 
which hind red the work, then his assembly of the bards 
and wisards, and what answer they returned him of his de- 
mand, but bade him withal be of comfort, for he prized 
his life (being a christian ) above ten such citadels, though 
erected and perfected with all the cost and magnificence 
that human art or fancy could devise. 

To which words, Merlin (who had all this while stood 
silent and spoke not a word) thus replied, Royal Sir, blind 
were your bards, witless your wi sards, and silly and simple 
your soothsayers; who shewed themselves averse to art, 
and altogether unacquainted with the secrets of nature, as 
altogether ignorant, that in the breast of this hill lies a vast 
moat, or deep pool, which hath ingurgitated and swallowed 
all these materials thrown into the trenches. Therefore 
command them to be digged deeper, and you shall disco- 
ver the water in which your squared stones have been 
washed, and in the bottom of the lake you shall find two 
hollow rocks of stone, and in them two horrible dragons 
fast asleep: which having uttered, he with a low obeisance 
made to the king, left speaking. 



54 TJSB LIFJE OF MERLIN, 

Who instantly commanded pioneers with pickaxes, 
mattocks, and shovels, to be sent for ; who were presently 
employed to dig the earth deep, where the pond was found, 
and all the water drained, so that the bottom thereof was 
left dry, then were discovered the two hollow rocks, which 
being opened, out of them issued two fierce and cruel dra- 
gons, the one red, the other white, and made betwixt them 
a violent and terrible conflict : but in the end the white 
dragon prevailed over the red. At which sight the king 
being greatly stupified and amazed, demanded of Merlin 
what this their combat might portend ? Who fetching a 
great sigh, and tears in abundance issuing from his eyes, 
with a prophetical spirit, made him this following answer: 

<c Woe's me for the red Dragon, for alach, 

The time is come, hee hasteth to his mach: 

The bloudy Serpent, (yet whose souls are white) 

Implys that Nation, on which thy delight 

Was late sole-fixt, (the Saxons) who as friends 

Came to thee first, but ayming at shrewd ends 

They shall have power over the drooping red, 

In which the British Nation's figured: 

Drive shall he them into caves, holes, and dens, 

To barren Mountains, and to moorish fens, 

Hills shall remove to where the valleyes stood, 

And all the baths and brooks shall flow with blood. 

The worship of the holy God shall cease. 

For in thilk dayes the Kirke shall have no peace : 

The Panims (woe the while) shall get the day, 

And with their Idols mawmetry beare sway, 

And yet in fine shce that was so opprest, 

Shal mount, & in the high rocks build her nest. 

For out of Cornwall shall proceed a Bore, 

Who shall the Kerk to pristine state restore, 

Bow shall all Britaine to his kingly beck, 

And tread he shall on the white Dragon's neck." 

Then casting a sad look upon the king, as reading his 
fate in his forehead, he muttered to himself and said, 

u Rut well-away for thee, to Britaine deere, 
For I fore-see thy sad disaster's neere," 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 55 

Which accordingly happened, and that within a few 
years after, for Vortigern having builded this castle, and 
fortified it, making it defensible against any foreign oppo- 
sition, the two sons of Constantine, whom Vortigern had 
before caused to be slain, assisted by their near kinsman 
Pudentius, king of Armorica, or little Britain, (where they 
had been liberally fostered and cherished) passed the sea 
with a compleat Army, and landed at Totness, whereof 
when the Britains who were dispersed in many provinces 
understood, they crept out of their holes and corners, and 
drew unto tl>eir host, which was no small encouragement to 
the two brothers, Ambrosius Aurelius and Uter-Pendra- 
gon, who now finding their forces to be sufficiently able 
both in strength and number, made their speedy expedi- 
tion towards Wales, with purpose to distress Vortigern the 
usurper. 

Who having notice of their coming, and not able in 
regard of the paucity of his followers to give them battle, 
he made what provision he could for the strengthening of 
his castle, to endure a long siege, and to oppose the rage 
of any violent battery, till he might send for supply else- 
where. But «uch was the fury of the assailants, that 
after many fierce and dangerous attemps finding the walls 
and gates to be impregnable; casting into the castle balls 
of wild fire, with other incendiaries, they burnt him and 
his people alive, amongst whom not one escaped. Of him 
it is reported, that he should have carnal society with his 
own daughter, in hope that kings should issue from them; 
thus died he most miserably when he had reigned, since 
his last inauguration, nine years and some odd months. 
The explanation of the rest of his prophecy, I will leave to 
the chapter following, 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER FOURTH, 



Merlin's former prophecy 
explained; with sundiy pro- 
digious acts done by hira to 
delight the king — His pro- 



phecy of the king's death, and 
bringing Stonehenge from Ire- 
land. 




OH have heard what the red and white dragons 
figured, namely, the British and Saxon people, we 
will now punctually examine the truth of his predictions 
in (he rest. The caverns, corners, mountains, and moor- 
ish places, express into what sundry distresses the natives 
w r ere driven into, by the merciless cruelty of the strangers; 
by the hills and valleys, shifting places, that there was 
no difference amongst the poor Britains, between the 
courtier and the cottager, the peer and the peasant; by the 
rivers flowing with blood, the many battles fought be- 
tween the two nations; and that in those days religion and 
the true worship of God **as supprest, happened under 
Hengist and Horsus, and their posterity. Octa the son of 
Hengist, who succeeded his father in the kingdom of 
Kent, Tosa, Pascentius, and (Jolgrinus, all pagans and \ 
princes of the Saxons. For when the Britains, from the 
time of Eleutherius, whom the Romists write was the 
fourteenth pope after the blessed St. Peter had received 
the Christian Faith under king Lucius, of glorious me- 
mory, and had continued it for many years unto that 
time. 

The Saxons, after coming into the land, being then 
miscreants, laboured by all means to suppress the same, and 
in the stead thereof, to plant their pagan idolatry, which 
they accomplished even to the coming of St. Augusting, 
sent hither by pope Gregory; in whose time again it 
began to flourish and get the upper hand, in the reign of 
An re! J us Ambrose, and his brother Uter-pendragon, 
(which is by interpretation the head of the dragon) wh@ 



WITH HI8 BTRANG18 PROPHECIES. 57 

succeeded him. By the boar, which should come out of 
Cornwall, and tread upon the neck of the white dragon, is 
meant the invincible king Arthur, who vanquished the 
Saxons, and subdued them in many battles, and was a 
great maintainer and exalter of the true Christian religion. 
Of whose begetting and birth, in this our History of 
Merlin, we shall have occasion to speak hereafter. 

As Merlin was plentifully endued with the spirit of di- 
vination ; so, by some authors, it is affirmed of him, that he 
was skilful in dark and hidden arts, as magic, necroman- 
cy, and the like; and relate of him, that when king 
Vortigern lived solitary in his late erected castle, forsaken 
of the greatest part of his followers and friends, and quite 
sequestered from all kingly honours, he grew into a deep 
and dumpish melancholy, delighting only (if any delight 
can be taken therein) in solitude and want of company. 
To expel which sad fits from him, which might be dan- 
gerous to impair his health, he would devise for his 
recreation and disport, many pleasant fancies to beget 
mirth, and sometimes laughter, by solacing his ear with 
several strains of music, both courtly and rural; the sound 
heard, but the persons not seen, as with the harp, bag- 
pipes, cymbal, andtabret; and sometimes again with the 
lute, orphorian, viol, sackbut, cornet and organs. Then, 
to recreate his eyes, he would present him with stately 
masks and anti-masks; and again, for variety sake, with 
rustick dances, presented by s wines and shepherdesses. 
And when these grew stale or tedious to his eye or ear, 
he would take him up into the top of one of his turrets, 
whereon he should see eagles and hawks fly after sundry 
games, and what fowl the king liked, they would strike 
it into his lap, to add to his slender provision for dinner 
and supper, which gave the king no small contentment. 

Sometimes he would have an hare or hart, huntedand cha- 
sed by a pack of dogs in the air, the game flying, the hounds, 
with open and audible mouths, pursuing, with huntsmen 
winding their horns, and following the chase with all 
theftindents and turnings, losses and recoveries; the cham- 
paign plains, the woods, and coverts, appearing as visible 
and natural as if the sport had been upou tlie firm and 
solid earth. 

H 



58 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

Upon a lime, being in the king's Summer parlour, who 
was desirous to be partaker of some novelty which he had 
never seen; there instantly appeared upon the table a pair 
of buts and whites in the middle to shoot at, where sudden- 
ly came in six dapper, and pert fellows like archers, in 
stature not above a toot high, and all other members ac- 
cordingly proportioned, their bows were of the side 
bones of an overgrown pike ; their strings of a small slivy 
silk, no bigger than the thread of a cobweb, their arrows 
less than pick-tooths, feathered with the wings of small 
ilies, and headed with the points of Spanish needles, who 
made a show as if they were to shoot a match three to 
three, and roundly they went about it. In the middle of 
their game, there was a shot which rested doubtful ; 
which, as it appeared, the gamesters could not well decide. 
Then, Merlin called to one of the servants (who had 
somewhat a big nose) and stood by, and bade him measure 
to the mark, and give it to the best; to which, while he 
stooped, and inclined his face, the better to impire the 
matter, one of the pigmy archers, who had an arrow to 
shoot, delivered it from his bow, and shot him quite 
through the nose, at which he started, and the king- 
heartily laughed ; (for there was no room to be seen) and 
the buts with the archers together disappeared. 

But when Merlin knew the king's fate to draw flight 
and not willing to partake in his disaster, he fained 
occasions abroad, and though, with much difficulty, had at 
length leave to depart, leaving behind him a paper which 
he put into the king's closet, where, upon occassicn, he 
might easily find, and read this ensuing prophecy. 

u Fly from these fatall severall fires o King, 

^Yhish from less Britain the two exiles bring : 

Now are their ships a rigging, now forsake, 

Th' Armoricke shoares, and towards J/6/ow make, 

To avenge their murdered brothers bloud on thee, 

In Tofnesse road to morrow they will bee, 

The Saxon Princes shall contend in vain, % 

For young AureLius having fjengi&t slain, 

Shall peaceably possesse the British throne, 

Striving the opposite Nations to attone. 

lie the true faith shall seek to advance on higb^ 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 59 

t 

But in the quest thereof, by poyson die, 
The Dragons head, his brother shall succeed, 
And after many a brave heroick deed, 
By him perform'd, the fates shall strive to waft, 
llissoule ore Styx, by a like poysnoUs draught, 
But those who sent them to th' EUzian bower, 
His sonne the Bore of Qornvcalt shall devourc."* 

This history needs no comment, being so plain in it- 
self by the success thereof; only this much, let me intrcat 
the reader to bear in memory, that that Arthur, figured 
under the name of Aper Cornubiae, that is, the Boar of 
Cornwall, was son to Uter-pendragon, here called the head 
of the Dragon. 

Amongst many brave heroical acts done by this Anre!- 
ius Ambrose; after the death of Vortigern, he maintained 
the middle part of the kingdom of Britain, with all Cam- 
bria and Wales, endeavouring to repair all the ruined 
places in the land, as forts, castles, and citadels, but 
especially the temples which were much defaced by the 
pagan idolaters, and caused divine service to be every 
where said in them, and after that, encountered the Saxons 
in the hill of Baden or Badove, where he slew many of 
them, and utterly routed their whole army. After which de- 
feat, another Saxon prince named Porthe, with his two sons, 
landed at an Haven in Sussex, after whom, as some 
authors affirms, the place is called Portsmouth unto this 
day, others landed also in s< veral parts of the kingdom, 
so that Aurelius had with them many conflicts and 
battles, in which he sped diversly, being for the most 
part conqueror, and yet } at some times, repulsed and over- 
set. 

Our English chronicles, and others say, that he, by the 
help of Llerlin, caused the great stones which stand till 
this day on the plain of Salisbury, to be brought in a 
whirl-wind one night out of Ireland, and caused them to 
be placed where they now stand in remembrance of the 
British lords there slain, and after buried in the time of the 

h 2 



Observe. All the prophecies are here inserted in their original 

orthography. 



60 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 



pretended treaty and communication had betwixt Vortigern 
and Hengist, as it formerly touched, but Polychronicon and 
others, ascribe the honour of their transportage to his 
brother, Uter-pendragon, at whose request to Merlin, that 
miraculous conveyance was performed; which, if by art 
he was able to do, no question to be made of the truth of 
those former prestigious feats, in this chapter before remem- 
bered. 



•BE 



■ ■ ■ H i ■ 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER FIFTH. 



Uter-pendragon succeedeth 
his brother Aurelius, he is ena- 
moured of Igerna, wife of the 
duke of Cornwall, whom, by 



the art of Merlin, he enjoys; 
of whom he begot king Arthur 
the Worthy — Merlin's pro- 
phecy of him before his birth. 



AURELIUS AMBROSE, in the prime of his age and 
honour, being taken away by poison, his brother, 
Uter-pendragon, by the general suffrage both of the 
clergy, peers, and people, was made king; who, pursuing 
his brother's former victories, gave the Saxons many 
battles, in which he came off with great honour and 
victory, as awing them so far that they durst not once 
approach his confines and territories. Afterwards he 
began to repair the decayed and ruinated churches, and to 
provide that God should be carefully worshipped, re- 
storing to his people all those goods and possessions, which 
by the enemy had been extorted from them. And after- 
wards, having slain Pascentius the son of Hengist in 
battle, with Guiilamorc king of Ireland, who came to his 
assistance, who had with great tyranny afflicted his 
subjects of the north with fire, sword, and sundry direp- 
tions and spoils ; and having taken Octa, (who was also 
the son of Hengist) and Cosa his nephew, and put 
them in prison. He made a great solemnity at the feast of 
easter, to which he invited all his nobility and gentry with 
their wives and daughters, to gratulate with him his 
former victories. Among the rest of his peers, was then 
present Gorlais, duke of Cornwall, with his most beau- 
tiful Igerna, who was held to be the prime paramont 
of the whole English nation. 

With whose beauty and demeanor, the king was so 
infinitely taken, that all other his most necessary affairs 
neglected, he could not restrain or bridle his extraordinary 



62 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

affection, but he must needs court and kiss her openly in 
the presence of her husband, at which he incensed with 
the rage of jealousy, presently, without any leave taken of 
the king, or the rest of his fellow peers, rose from the 
table, and taking his wife with him along, by no persua- 
sion could be moved to stay, but instantly posted with her 
into his country, which the king (being perditely ena- 
moured of his lady) took in such ill part, that he sent for 
them back, pretending they must use his council in matters 
of state, to make his speedy return* But he more prizing 
his lady than all his other fortunes (whether favourable or 
disastrous) which way soever they should happen, dis- 
obeyed the king's command, with a peremptorily answer, 
That he would not come. At which, the king more in- 
raged, serit him word, that if he persisted in his obsti- 
nacy, he would invade his dukedom and beat his towers 
and turrets (to which he trusted) about his ears, but vain 
were his, menaces, for loath to loose so sweet a bed-fellow, 
he set the king at public defiance. 

To chastise whose pride, (as he pretended) Uter-pen- 
dragon gathered a strong army, and invaded his country 
with fire and sword, but Gorlais, perceiving himself 
unable to oppose so potent a prince, attended with such 
multitudes of experienced and tried soldiers, he betook 
himself to a strong castle, then called Dimilioch; and 
there fortified himself, daily expecting forces from Ire- 
land ; but because he would not hazard all his estate in 
one bottom; he, like a wise merchant, sent his wife to 
another impregnable fort called Tindagol, being round 
environed with the sea; and one way leading into it, 
which, three men elbowing one another, could not pass at 
once. A few days being past in the besieging of that 
former castle, which the duke maintained against him, he 
grew still the more besotted with the love of the lady, 
insomuch that he could neither enter nor escape. At length 
he uttered the impatience of his affection to one, whom he 
had amongst many others, chosen for his familiar friend, 
whose name was Ulphin of Caer-Caradoc; who, when he 
had truly pondered the whole that the king had delivered 
unto him, he returned him answer, that he could perceive 
small hope for the king to attain his amourous ends, in 
regard that the fort in which she resided, by reason of the 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIBS. 



63 



situation of the place (munified both by art and nature) was 
altogether inaccessible. For three armed men(so straight was 
the passage) might keep out his whole army ; one refuge 
only remained, that if the prophet Merlin, who was then 
in the army, would undertake the business, it might be 
accomplished, but otherwise not. 

The king, being attentive to his language, presently- 
caused Merlin to be sent for, and told him, how ardently 
he was atfected to the countess, without enjoying whoso 
person he was not able to subsist alive ; aggravating the 
trouble and perplexity of his mind, with much paleness 
in his face, many deep suspires and extraordinary passion; 
which Merlin commiserating, he told his majesty, that to 
compass a thing so difficult as that was, being but a 
little degree from impossibility, he must make proof of art 
mystical and unknown, by which he would undertake by 
such unctions and medicaments as he would apply, to meta- 
morphose his highness into the true figure and resemblance 
of duke Gorlais; his friend Ulphia into Jordan of Tinte- 
gell, his familiar companion and counsellor; and himself 
would make the third in the adventure, changing himself 
into Bricel, a servant that waited of him in his chamber; 
and they three, thus disguised, would in the twilight of 
the evening, whilst the duke in one place was busied in 
the defence of his castle against the assailants, command 
their entrance into the other fort in the name and person of 
thedake, where they should be undoubtedly received. 

This prestigious plot much pleased the king, who, 
impatient of delay, gave order to his chief captains and 
commanders concerning the siege, excusing to them his 
absence for some certain hours. He, in the mean time, the 
same night, committed himself to the charge and art of 
Merlin ; who, disguised as aforesaid, knocked at the gates 
of Tindagol, to whom the porter (thinking he had heard his 
lord's voice demanding entrance) instantly opened the 
gate, and meeting him with Ulphin and Merlin, taking 
them for Jordan and Bricel ; so that the king was pre- 
sently conducted to the chamber of Igerna ; who gladly 
and lovingly received him as her lord and husband, where 
he was bountifully feasted, and bedding with her, he 
ireely enjoyed her most loving embraces to the lull sa- 



64 TIIE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

tiating of his amorous desires, where betwixt them, that 
night, was begot the noble prince Arthur; who, for his brave 
facinorous, and high and heroical achievements, made his 
name glorious and venerable through the face of the 
whole earth. Of whom, Merlin, long before his begetting 
or birlh, thus prophesied. 

M The Cornish Bore shall fill with his devotion, 

The Christian World: the Islands of the Ocean, 

He shall subdue: the Flower de Lyces plant, 

In his own Garden, and prove Paramant, 

The two-neekt Roman Eagle bee shall make 

To flag her plumes, and her faint feathers quake. 

Pagans shal strive in vain to bend or break him, 

Who shall be meat to all the mouths that speake him, 

Yet shall his end be doubtfull: Him six Kings 

Shall orderly succeed, but when their wings 

Are dipt by death, a German Worme shall rise 

Who shall the British State anatomise. 

Him, shall a Sea- Wolfe waited on by Woods 

From Ajricke brought to passe Saint Georges floods 

Advance on high: then shall Religion faile, 

And then shall Londorts Clergie honour vaile 

To Dorobcrnia: he that seventy shall sit 

In th' Eboracensick Sea; he fore'd to Hit 

Into Armor ica: filenevia sad 

Shall with the Legion Cities Pall be clad, 

And they that in thilk days shall live, may see 

That all these changes in the Kirke shall bee." 

But before I come to the opening of this prophecy, 
which to the ignorant may appear rather a rhyming riddle. 
Then, to be grounded on truth or reason, it is necessary 
that 1 look back to where 1 late left, and proceed with the 
history which thus followeth : The king more ecstasied in 
the embraces of his sweet and desired bedfellow, his 
soldiers, without any commission by him granted, made a 
strange and terrible assault upon the other fort, in which 
Gortats was besieged; who, being of a high and haughty 
spirit, scorning to be long immured, and coped up without 
making some expression of his magnanimity and valour, 
issued out of the castle, and with great rage and resolution 
sat upon the camp, in hopes, with his handful of men, to 
have dibiodged and routed a multitude, but it fell out far 



WITH HIS STIIANCE PROPHECIES. 65 

contrary to Iris expectation, for in the hctest brunt of the 
first encounter, he himself was slain, and all his soldiers 
without mercy offered, or quarter given, most cruelly put 
to the sword; the castle entered and seized; and the spoil 
divided amongst the soldiers. 

Early in the morning before the king or the countess 
were ready in their wearing habits and ornaments, some of 
the besieged who had escaped the massacre, bounced at the 
gates of Tindagol, and, being known io be of the duke's 
party, were received ; who told the porter and the rest, 
that they brought heavy news along, which they must first 
deliver to their lady; of which, she having notice, and 
knowing they came from that castle, caused them to be 
admitted into her presence, and demanding of them what 
news ; they made answer : the tidings they brought wa* 
sad and disastrous, That the fort was, the preceding night, 
robustuously assaulted by ihe enemy, whom the duke, her 
husband, valiantly encountered without the gates, that all 
their fellow-soldiers were put to the sword, the castle taken 
and rifled, and that the general, her lord and husband, by 
his over hardness, was the first man slain in the conflict. 
At the relation of the first part of their news she seemed 
wonderously disconsolate and dejected, but, casting -her 
eyes upon the king, she was again somewhat solaced in the 
safety of her husband* 

They, also, when they saw the king, taking him for 
the duke, their general, began to blush at their report of 
his death, being wonderously astonished, that him, whom, 
to their thinking, they had left wounded and breathless 
in the field, they now sec living and in health, amusing 
withal that they posting thither with so much speed would 
arrive thither before them, being altogether ignorant of the 
admirable transformation that Merlin's art had wrought 
upon them. In this anxiety and diversity of thoughts, the 
king more glad of the duke's fate than the rifling of his 
fort; thus bespoke to the duchess, Most beautiful, and my 
best beloved Igerna, I am not as these report dead, but as 
thou seest, yet alive; but much grieved both for the sur- 
prisal of my castle, and the slaughter of my soldiers; upon 
which victory, it may be feared, that the king, animated 
by his late success, may raise his army thence., and en- 

i 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 
r 

danger us here in our fort of Tindagol; therefore, my 
best and safest course is to leave this place for the present, 
and to submit myself to the king in his camp; of whose 
acceptance and grace I make no question, as knowing him 
to be of a disposition flexible and merciful; then be you of 
comfort, for in a few hours you may expect to hear from me, 
"with aii things answerable to your desires and wishes. 
With which words, Igerna was much pleased and fully 
satisfied. 

So, with a loving kiss, they parted, she to her chamber, 
and he, with his two followers, towards the camp ; who, 
no sooner from the sight of the citadel, but Merlin began 
to uncharm and dissolve his former incantations and spells, 
so that the king was no more Gorlais, but Uter-pendragon, 
and his friend ceased to be Jordan of Tindagol, but Ulphia 
of Caer-Caradoc; and the mage who bad made this 
transformation, left the shape of Bricel, and turned again 
to be Merlin. And the king being now arrived at his 
army, first caused the body of Gorlais to be searched 
for amongst the slain soldiers; afterwards to be em- 
balmed and honourably interred; and first, acquaint- 
ing Igerna by letters, with all the former passages, 
how thev stood, and how much he had hazarded his 
person for the fruition of hei love, he invited her to her 
lord's funeral, at which the king and she both mourned j 
but after the celebration thereof ended, he, the second time, 
courted her, and in a few days made her his queen of a 
duchess ; by whom he had Arthur and Anna; by which 
match, the fame of Merlin spread far abroad ; the expia- 
tion of whose former prophecy, I leave to the following 
chapter* 



aas 



sc 



tnaii Ti i '-rnit- i ■"* i f*»" " in < m ''■:■'-•' 



n ■ I I I 



wajti^W' « Til <r ■«- *■>'■ -7W *J** 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER SIXTH. 



Merlin's former prophecy 
laiade plain concerning king 
Arthur, with sundry other oc- 



currences pertinent to the 
English history. 



ARTHUR, the son of Uther-pendragon and Igerna, 
succeeded his father in the principality; therefore, 
called the Boar of Cornwall, because begot and born in. 
that country, and of a Cornish duchess. He was'a great 
planter and supporter of religion and the Christian faith, 
for so all our British chronologers report of him. His con- 
guests were many, and some of thern miraculous. By the 
Islands of the Ocean are meant Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, 
and the Orcades, Goatland, Norway, and Dacia, all which 
are called Provincial Islands, which he brought under the 
obedience of his sceptre. By the planting of the Flower 
de JLyces in his own garden, is likewise intended his con- 
quest of France, with sundry other appendant provinces, 
as Flanders, Poland, Burgundy, Aquitaine, Andegavia, 
and Normandy; all which, with divers others, paid him an 
annual tribute, and of which countries, for their Ion^ and 
faithful services, he gave the earldom of Andegavia to 
Gaius his taster, and the dukedom of Normandy to Bed- 
verus his cup-bearer ; in memory of whose regal bounty, 
it grew to a custom for the kings of France to make their 
tasters and cup-bearers, earls and dukes of Andegavia and 
Normandy. 

By his pluming and shaking off the eagle's feat her s 9 
was his great victories over the Romans foretold ; 
who, when their prince Lucius with ten other kings, in- 
vaded this his land of Britain, with a numberless army of 

i 2 



68 THE LIFE OF MEItLIN, 

soldiers, the most of them he slew, acquitting the tribute 
paid to Rome since the time of Julius Csesar, and those 
who survived, he made hisfeodaries and vassals, by which 
he got the sovereignty over many provinces before subju- 
gate to tlie Roman empire, sending the dead body of their 
emperor back to Rome, to be interred there. Next, where it 
is said, His name shall be as meat to all those mouths that 
shall speak of his noble and notable achievements, by which 
nootherthing is meant, but that the very relation cf his brave 
guests shall be a refreshing; and delight to all such as shall 
either read them or hear them with much pleasure by 
others reported, whose very begetting, conception, and 
birth, carry with them the novelty of a miracle. And 
where it is further said, that his end shall be doubtful ; he 
that shall make question of the truth of Merlin's prophecy 
in that point (let him to this day) but travel into Armorica 
or Little Britain, and in many of their cities, proclaim in 
their streets, That Arthur expired after the common and 
ordinary manner of men ; most sure, he shall have a bitter 
and railing language aspert upon him, if he escape a 
tempestuous shower of stones and brick-bats, 

1 he six Icings that succeeded him in order, were Conslan- 
tinus, the eldest son of Cador duke of Cornwall, (and Ar- 
thur's cousin-german) the second was Constantinus 5 bro- 
ther; the third Conanus Aurelius their nephew; the fourth 
Vorliporius: the fifth Malgo; the sixth Caretius; for, 
when Arthur in that great battle which he fought against 
his cousin the arch-traitor Mordred, whom he slew, being 
himself mortally wounded, and therefore had retired him- 
self unto the vale of Avalan, in hope to be cured of his 
hurts; before his death, (and the manner of which is un- 
certain) he sent for his cousin Constantine, before-named, 
{a man of approved virtue, and expert in all martial dis- 
cipline) and made him king, against whom, the Saxons, 
assisted by the two sons of Mordred, assembled them- 
selves, who, having defeated them in sundry battles, the 
elder son of Mordred, who had for his refuge fortified 
Winchester, he took in the church of St, Amphibalus, 
(whither he had fled for sanctuary) and slew him before 
the altar: the younger he fouud hid in a monastery in Lon- 
don, whom he likewise caused to be slain; this happened in 
the 543rd year of the incarnation of our blessed Saviour; 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 69 

but in the third year after he was perfidiously betrayed to 
death by the practice of his nephew; Conanus Aurelius, 
and his body was royally interred in mount Ambria near 
unto Uter-pendragon. 

Then reigned his brother, whom Conanus suffered not 
to rest one hour in peace, till he had incarcerated him, 
and in the same year usurped the diadem ; a young man 
of excellent parts and noble carriage, had he not been 
tainted with ambition, the love of civil wars and parrici- 
dial impiety, having slain one of his uncles, imprisoned 
the other, and killed his two sons to attain to the regal 
sovereignty, which not long he enjoyed, for in the next 
year he expired. Whom succeeded ^ortiporius, against 
whom the Saxons made a new insurrection, and by whom 
they were utterly subverted, by which he became ab- 
solute monarch of this island ; but, after four years, 
yielded his body to the earth, and left his crown to Malgo, 
who was invested in the year of grace, after some authors, 
581. 

This prince was strong in body, fortunate in arms, and of 
larger size and stature than any of his predecessors, who was 
a great suppressor of usurpers and tyrants, for he not only 
enjoyed this kingdom entire, but conquered by his sword 
all the six provincial islands. Of w 7 hom it is reported, 
that he was the fairest of all the British nation, but those 
excellent gifts of nature he shamefully abused, as being 
much addicted to sodomy £ and as he was a proditor of 
other's chastities, he was also prodigal of his own ; after 
whose death, in the year 586, Garetius was instituted on 
the throne, a prince hateful to good men, and incendiary 
of civil and domestic combustions, an exiier of his nobles, 
a slayer of his citizens, a robber of the rich, a suppressor 
of the poor, and indeed, subject to all the vices can be 
named. 

By the German Worm and the Sea Wolf waited on by 
Woods, brought from Africa , through St. George's 
channel^ which shall support him; our prophet would 
have us to know, that the Saxons are comprehended in the 
Worm; and in the Wolf, Gormundus king of Africa, 
who, in the time of this Garetius, came with a mighty navy 
upon the British seas; first, with 360,000 soldiers, who 



70 TTCR LIFE 6* MBRLW, ' 

i 

first invaded Ireland, and made great spoil of the country, 
and from thence he was invited by the Saxons to assist 
them against the British nation; to which, he Assented, 
invaded the kingdom with fire and sword, committing 
many direptions and outrages, chasing the king from place 
to place, and from city to city, till he was in the end forced 
to fly to Wales, wherethey shut him up; and by this means, 
the German Worm, by the means of this Sea Wolf, had 
the upper hand on the red Dragon. Whilst these things 
were thus in agitation, there came to this great general of 
the Africans, from the transmarine parts of Gallia, one 
Isimbardus, nephew to Lewis the French king, who com- 
plained unto him that his uncle, against all justice, kept 
his rights from him, imploring his aid for the recovery 
thereof, promising him great rewards, in pledge w Here- 
of, like a wretched Apostata, he renounced his faith 
and Christianity, of which proffer Gormundus accepted, 
and made his speedy expedition towards France. 

But the miscreant Isimbardus, failed of his purpose, 
and was justly punished by the hand of God for his apos- 
tacj; for attheir landing at the port of St. Waleric, a 
young gentleman called Hugo, son to Robert, earl of the 
Mount, having received an affront from this Isimbard, 
challenged him to a single duel, who entertaining the 
challenge, was, by the aforesaid king, left dead in the 
field, and the French setting upon the host of the pagans, 
gave them a great discomfiture, insomuch that of all that 
infinite number, scarce any were left to bear the tidings of 
their disaster into their country, but either perished by 
the sword, or were drowned in the ocean. In which time, 
saith the prophet, religion shall fail, which happened 
when this Gormundus with the Saxons rioted and made 
havock in this island, suppressing religious houses, and 
ruinating churches, so that scarce a christian native durst 
shew his head, but he was subject to persecution and 
torture. 

But it follows in the prophecy, that the honour of Lon* 
don's clergy shall give place to Dorobernia or Canterbury, 
that the seventh who sat in the Eboracensian see, which is 
the arch-bishoprick of York, shall be compelled to fit/ 
into Armorica or Little Britain, and that Menevia shall 
be adorned with the pall that belonged to the city of Le* 



WITM Kit STRAHGl PltOPHBCIE*. fl 

gions. Give me leave to use a little circumstance in th* 
explaining of these, that finding the truth of his predic- 
tions by the success, the reader may be more easily indu- 
ced to give credit unto the rest, in which I shall strive 
(though plain) to be brief; 

The three prime seats or sees, were the three arch- 
bishopricks, which were London, Y'ork, and the city of 
Legions. Now, note, how punctually he comes to the 
purpose; the dignity of London's metropoiitanship was 
transferred to Canterbury by St. Augustine, whom pope 
Gregory sent hither with others to preach the gospel, who 
also gave the primacy of the city of Legions to Menevia, 
a city of Wales, situate near to the Demetical see, but the 
city of Legions stands upon the river Osca, not far from 
the Severn sea, which was first erected by king Belinus, 
whose valiant brother Brennus, being general of the Senon 
Galls, after many honourable exploits and glorious victo- 
ries by him achieved, assaul «\d the famous city of Rome, 
took, sacked, and spoiled it in the days of Ahasuerus and 
Esther; Gabinus and Porsenna, being consuls, the first of 
whom he slew in battle, and the other took prisoner, &€• 

By the arch-bishop of York, the seventh inaugurated 
into that see, who should be compelled to seek shelter in 
Little Britain, is intimated Samson, then resident ; who, 
in that great prosecution made by the Africans and Saxons, 
with six of his brothers, all clergymen, and of great sanc- 
tity of life, fled into Little Britain, and there established 
his metropolitan chathedral. The rest of his six brothers, 
whose names were Melanius, Matutus, Maclovius, Pabu- 
taus, Paternus and Waslovius, being all divines, were made 
the rectors of other churches, and became, in a short time, 
to be capable of episcopal dignities ; which seven bro- 
thers, not only the natives of the country, but all the 
bordering provinces, call the seven saints of Britain 
(meaning the less Britain) even to this day, now let it be 
held any deviation or digression from the subject now in 
hand. If I borrow so much patience of the reader to ac- 
quaint him with a strange and almost miraculous story or 
legend, by what accident, or rather divine providence 
these seven holy and devout brothers, were by the mutual 
congress of two noble parents, (the father and mother) 



72 THE LIFE OP MERLIN, &C. 

begot and conceived in one womb, and after mature time 
of teeming, delivered into the world at one day. Bat 
because 1 am loath to swell the pages of this chapter 
beyond the limits of the former, I will refer the relati- 
on thereof unto that next ensuing. 



■ y »» w *O I .M l " I* 



■qB 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER SEVENTH. 



Of the conception and birth 
of these seven pious and religi- 
gious brothers ; and being sent 
to death, how preserved, edu- 



cated, and doctrinated. — With 
a continuance of Merlin's 
prophecies and their explana- 
tion. 



THE Legend reports, that their mother being a noble 
and chaste matron; but in herfeminine ignorance, not 
acquainted with the ^accidents belonging to other women, 
conceived a strange opinion; from which she could not be 
removed, that it was not possible for any of that sex to 
conceive more than one at once, unless she had the con- 
society of so many several men as she brought forth chil- 
dren, insomuch that she vilified and disreputed; holding 
all those no better than adulteresses and prostitutes, who 
were delivered of twins, or a more numerous issue. But 
the God of all flesh, and the Creator of nature, being also 
the searcher of hearts, and a justifier of all innocence, 
(to convert this lady from her erroneous belief, and to 
clear these unjust aspersions with which she had branded 
other chaste and fruitful wombs) so, by his providence 
ordained, that by her sole lord and husband, she, at one 
congression, was conceived of seven sons, and delivered 
of them at one time, being within the compass of one day. 

Which she seing, and much amazed at the prodigious 
novelty of such an unexpected issue, and now favouring 
by a reciprocal retribution these accusations and suspi- 
cions, which she had so often cast upon other good women, 
might be thrown upon her in a desperate way. Thereby, 
thinking to save her reputation (which she thought hazar- 
ded at least, if not quite lost) she consulted with the mid- 



74 THE LITE OF MERLIN, 

wife and one of her most trusty maids, (having hired them 
for that purpose) to take the young sprawling infants, and 
either to kill them or cast them into the next river; for 
which purpose, as they were hastening, and carrying them 
in Utile baskets, it pleased the higher powers, that a grave 
and reverend bishop met them upon the way ; and, as he 
passed by the women, he heard the infants crying and 
moaning, winch he imagined was to implore his help 
and aid; therefore, he stopped them, and would needs see 
what they carried In their laps concealed, which they (as 
loath to betray their lady's secrets) unwilling to shew, he 
grew the more suspicious, and compelled them, having 
some servants then about him, to dissover what was hid 
in their baskets; which, being opened, the babes all 
living, seemed to rejoice at his sight, and smile in his 
face, with which he was much delighted. 

Then, more strictly examining them, for what purpose 
they carried them in that manner, and threatening them 
with the severity of the law, if they told him not the truth ; 
they, knowing the power and authority of the church, and 
danger of ecclesiastical censure, and that their attempt de- 
served (if not execution) yet excommunication at the 
le st, concealed no part of the truth, but earnestly solicited 
him, whatsoever became of them, to have care of their 
lady's honour. The pious and charitable prelate, having 
been before himself of her perverse opinion; and now, 
seeing how justly the Creator of all things had dealt with 
her, and to what desperation she was brought, by think- 
ing to save a poor credit in this life, by the murder of so 
hopeful an issue, to forfeit all the hopes she had in the 
world to come; he dismissed the bearers without any 
furiher trouble, adjuring them to tell their lady, that they 
had drowned the young infants according to her com- 
mandment (of which, he himself would take charge, 
and adopt them tor his own) and causing them to be 
borne to his palace, and aff.r to the church; he him- 
self baptized them, and gave them their names as aforesaid, 
then sent for nurses, and commanded that they should be 
carefully educated ; and when they came to any under- 
standing', he sent them to school, and caused them to be 
instructed in all the seven liberal arts, (for he tound them to 
be of pregnant and capable apprehensions) who afterward* 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 75 

by his means, came to be preferred to church promotions, 
and afterwards to episcopal dignities. I now proceed to 
Merlin's next prophecy, which thus followeth : 

" The Heavens in stead of water, bloud shall showre, 

And famine shall both young and old devoure: 

Droop and be sad shall the red Dragon then, 

But after mickle time be blithe agon, 

And now the Serpent that was white before, 

Shall have his silver scales, all drencht in gore. 

Seven scepter-bearing Kings in field shall die, 

One of whose Sainted soules shall pierce the skie, 

Kept shall the babes bee from their Mothers wombes: 

And soone as climbe on earth, grope from their Tombes. 

All by a brazen man shall come to passe, 

Who likewise mounted on his Steed of brasse, 

Both night and day will Londons prime Gate keep, 

Whether the carlesse people wake or sleep." 

Whosoever shall read Matthew of Westminster, our 
ancient English chronologer, page 29, shall tind that in 
the days of Cadwallo, king of this island, the 13th after 
Brute; that for three days together, blood dropped from the 
clouds, after which, came a great swarm of infectious flies, 
by whose bitings or stingings, there was great mortality in 
this land, and by the shower of bloody is further intimated, 
the great effusion of British blood, sometimes by public hos- 
tility, sometimes by civil and domestic enmity, profusely 
wasted; insomuch, that the earth appeared, as if blood had 
been poured down from the heavens; after which, by the 
barrenness of the earth, followed so great a famine, that 
nothing was found for the people to feed on, but the roots of 
m ithered herbs and grass, and such flesh as they could 
catch by hunting. 

No wonder then, if this made the British nation (figured 
under the red dragon) greatly to droop; which, after 
much sufferance and labour, was restored to his pristine 
state and dignity. For Cadwallo, who was kin^ anno 
salutis 633, after many horrid crosses and disasters, 
exile, expulsion from this kingdom, and the loss of his 
whole inheritance, was forced, with a few of his followers 
that remained of his many legions, to retire into Little 

k 2 



,76 SHE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

Britain, io his cousin, king Salomon, who courteously 
received him, where he wintered; and in the spring, 
when kings go customably out to war, he furnished him 
with an army of 10,000 able men, when, having ship- 
ped them safely, and prosperously arrived in this his own 
native and hereditary provinces. And, hearing that 
Paeanda king of Mercia (or middle England) had besieged 
in Exeter his cousin Briant, with those poor remainder 
of the Britons which he had left behind, dividing his sol- 
diers into several squadrons, not only removed the siege, 
but took the king prisoner, who, having given him suffi- 
cient hostages for his truth and fidelity, gave him also his 
only daughter to wife, so that he became the father in law 3 
who made him general of his army. 

After which, Cadwallo, calling all his exiled subjects 
(dispersed abroad in several provinces) into the kingdom, 
lie raised a competent army, and invaded Northumberland 
with fire and sword, of which, Edwinus was then king ; 
who, assembling to his aid all the Reguli, (or less kings) 
gave him a strong encounter, in which his whole army 
was discomfited, and himself slain in the field; whom 
succeeded is son Affricus, assisted by Chaldodus, duke of 
the Orcades, (whom Matthew of Westminster, calls Off-- 
ridus and Gothaldus) now Cadwallo, not contented with 
his former victories, gathered his whole forces together 
against Offricus, whom he also slew in battle, with his two 
nephews, and Cadamus the Scot's king, who came to take 
part with the Northumbers. Which done, he past through 
all the kingdom, being so maliciously and cruelly bent 
against the Saxons, that he neither spared age nor ssx, 
killing the old, and young infants new born, and those 
that never saw the sun in their mother's wombs, purposing 
utterly to extirpate and root out all the Saxson nation : thus 
you see, tlie red Dragon, (namely, the British nation) after 
much dejection exalted, and the scales of the white Serpent 
(the Saxons) stained in sanguine tincture y by so general a 
massacre. 

It folio wetli, seven sceptre-bearing kings shall be slain 
in the field, of which one of them shall be sainted: now, 
these seven kings slain by Cadwallo and his father-in-law 
Piieanda, were Edwinus, his son Offricus, and Oswaldus, 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 77 

(the saint spoken of) which were the three kings of 
Northumberland; Segebartus, Egricus , and Anna, who 
reigned over the orientalBritons, and Cadamus the Scotch 
king: concerning which Oswaldus, his sanctity and other 
pious virtues, the ancient chronicles write largely, (as also 
the lords of those times) many panegyricks in his praise, 
which would be too tedious hereto insert, yet some particu- 
lars of him, howsoever credible or no, 1 thought fit to re- 
member: it was said of him, that when Aldanus, bishop of 
Scotland (whose language neither he nor any of his Saxons 
understood) did at any time preach before him and his 
people, he would put upon him a royal garment, worn 
only on solemn festival days, and whether by virtue of 
that, or by divine rapture, he would deliver all that ser- 
mon, word for word, to his countrymen, in their proper 
and modern language. He was also so temperate in his 
own diet, and withal, so liberal to the poor, that when he 
had guests at his table, he would not only spare from his 
own stomach, but if he saw any of them gormandize, or 
feed more than became them, he would bid them eat more 
sparingly, and to remember those hungry bellies at the 
gate, which attended the reversion and fragments from his 
board and bounty. 

This reverend bishop Aldanus, being feasted by him on 
an Easter day, the king commanded a great silver charger 
filled with the best meats at his table, to be carried to the 
beggars at his gate; and, when they had eaten the meat, 
and sold the dish, and equally divided it amongst them, 
which the bishop seing,said aloud, Live that liberal hand ! 
O ! may it always live and never taste of corruption, 
which (if we will believe the .Roman Legend) proved ac- 
cording to his prophetical acclamation; for many years 
after his death, when his tomb was searched, and all the 
rest of his body, according to the common course of na- 
ture, was putrified and turned to dust, that hand and arm 
alone were preserved from corruption and rottenness, and 
remained as entire flesh, blood, veins, and arteries, as 
when he was interred. 

It followeth in the history, six of these before-named 
kings, being slain in several conflicts, Cadwallo, whose 
high spirit was irreconcileable towards the Saxons, pursued 
this Oswald from province to province, chasing him even 



78 *HE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

to the wall which Severus the Roman emperor built, to 
part and divide the two kingdoms of Britain and Scotland, 
and then sent his general and father-in-law, Paeana, to give 
him battle at a place called Hed-field, or Holy-camps, in 
which, by the prayers of this Oswaldus, the Britons' host was 
quite discomfited; of which defeat, when king Cadwallo 
understood, he gathered a fresh army, and gave him a 
second battle at a place called Bourne, in which Oswaldus 
and his army were wholly routed, and himself died la- 
mented in his own pious blood, for whose charity and 
sanctity, he was afterwards canonized, and remaineth to 
this day one of the saints blessed in our Calendar, whose 
death happened in the year of our Saviour 644, which im- 
proved that part of Merlin's prophecies, Seven kings shall 
hi slain, one of which shall be sainted. 

By the brazen man, mounted upon a steed of brass, 
who is said to do all these, is antonomastiee meant king 
Cadwallo; to honour whom, after his death, for bis many 
brave victories, and expelling the Saxons out of the land, 
the peers and people caused his statue, at his full size and 
proportion to be cast in brass, sitting- also upon an horse of 
brass, in whose buckler they intombed his embalmed 
body, and after set it upon the prime gate of the city of 
London, (it being a piece of admirable art and pulchri- 
tude) and near the same, in further memory of him, 
built a church, dedicated to St. Martin, therefore saith 
the prophet, The brazen horse and man shall watch the 
gate whether the people wake or sleep, which continued 
for many years afterwards. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER EIGHTH. 



He prophesieth of the civil 
wars that shall be in Britain in 
the time of Cadwallo, and of 
the great dearth and desolation 



in the reign of Cadwallader.— . 
Of the Saxons exalting them- 
selves, and of the first coming 
ib of the Danes into this land. 



AS Merlin, in all his prophecies, aimeth at a continued 
history of the main passages in this isle of Britain. 
So, 1 also desire to observe a concordance of times, least 
the neglect of either, might breed a confusion in both, as 
shall be made good in the sequel. His prophecy follow- 
eth; 



4i The crimson Dragon with his own fierce pawes 

Shall teare his proper bowels Against the Laws: 

Of wholesome Nature, plague, and famine then 

Shall fill the barren earth with shrowds of men. 

After, the Dragon whose smooth scales are white, 

Hither the Almans daughter shall invite, 

And crown themselves: Against whom shall rise 

An Eagle from the Rock, and both surprise, 

Two Lions shall a dreadful combat make, 

Having their Lists encompast by a Lake. 

At length be atton'd, and after shall divide, 

The glorious prey: aspeckled scale, whose pryde, 

Shall ay me at high things; will his Lord betray 

Poysoning the Royal nest in which he lay 

Of the white Dragon, so the Fates agree, 

At length a Decemvirum there shall be: 

What time the Red shall to his joy behold 

The roofs of all his Temples deckt with gold, &c." 

By the Crimson Dragon is still meant England, which 
after the death of Cad\vallo ; being impatient of peace, for 



80 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

want of foreign enemies shall beat civil dissention in itself, 
of which shall ensue much rage and mortality, such dearth, 
famine, and desolation which shall happen by the plague 
that destroy eth the men, and the murrain that kiileth the cat- 
tle^that the natives shall be forced to leave the kingdom as a 
wilderness unpeopled; the remainder of the living being 
scarce sufficient in number to bury the dead; which strange 
depopulation fell in the third and last year of Cadwalader 
the son of Cadwallo, which was in the year of grace 686, 
which maketh up the year of the world, by the account of 
Polychronicon, and other of our English chronologers 
5885; so that it appeareth, the native Britains had the 
title and sovereignty of this kingdom from Brute's first 
landing, by the space of 18?2 years, Cadwallader being 
the last king of the Britains, alter whom the Saxons or 
Angles had the full dominion thereof, which maketh good 
that in the prophecy, The white Dragon shall invite the 
Alman's daughter, which implieth a great supply of the 
German nation, and crown themselves. For, from that 
time they bear the sceptre, and had the absolute jurisdiction 
over the whole land, which they continued for a long season. 

To pass over all the Saxon kings to the time of Ethel- 
redus, in whose days, An Eagle from the rock (which was 
Swanus, king of Denmark) shall rise, 8?c. The better to 
explain our prophet, and to carry the history along, this 
Etheldred, the son of the most royal king Edward, by his 
second wife, Alfrida, by some called Estrild, when he 
came to be crowned by Dunstan, arch-bishop of Canter- 
bury, he could not contain himself, but with a prophetical 
spirit uttered those words : " Because, by the bloody 
slaughter of thy brother, thou hast aspired to the kingdom, 
the sin of thy most wicked and mischievious mother shall 
never be expiated, nor any who were of her diabolical 
counsel, but, by the greatest effusion of the Saxon blood, 
that ever was shed since their first coming into Britain, and 
further the beginning of thy reign shall be cruel, the 
middle thereof miserable, and the end shameful." All 
which accordingly happened. 

His father, king Edgar, of ever surviving memory, had 
by his first wife called Egelfleda, a noble son named Ed- 
ward, and by his second Alfrida. This Etheldred, Edgar 
being dead, the barons assembled, and made Edward king 



tflTH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 81 

in the year of grace 875, at which his step-mother greatly 
repined, using all the means both of power, proof, and 
friends, to have inaugurated her son Ethelred, being then 
a lad but of seven years old; which, in the end, she. most 
traiterously accomplished, for the king, hunting in the 
forest, near unto the castle of Corffe, in the west country, 
who having lost ail his company, bethought himself that 
his step-mother with her son, lived in that castle, to whom, 
he would give a friendly visit; who, spying from her win- 
dow afar off, called to a villain that amended her, and 
whispered in his ear what he should do. By this, the 
king was come to the gate, and she descended to meet him, 
saluting him with a Judaic kiss, and intreaied him to 
alight and sojourn with her for that night; which he mo- 
destly refusing, said he would only drink a horseback and 
so be gone, which being brought, as the cup was at his 
mouth, her traiterous servant, with a long dagger, stroke 
him quite through the body, at which, he put spurs to his 
horse, thinking to have recovered his servants, but through. 
his great loss of blood, he fainted, and falling from hig 
horse, one of his feet was fastened to the stirrup, and so 
hurried to a place called Corrisgate, where his miserably- 
mangled body was found, and not being known at that 
present to be the king, without ceremony buried ; whom, 
as you have heard, his brother by the father's side suc- 
ceeded. 

In whose reign happened divers prodigies, pretending 
great disasaster, among which was the sterility of the 
earth, the burning of London by an accidental fire, but 
the most ominous and terrible was the invasion of the 
Danes, and their many massacres and inhuman butcheries 
committed through all the shires and provinces of the 
kingdom, as more amply hereafter, but by the way is to 
be noted, that in the eighth year of his reign, he was 
espoused to Ithelgina, whom some call Elgina, daughter 
to earl Edgebertus, by whom, in process of time, he 
received a son called Edmund, (afterwards for his notable 
valour, surnamed Ironside) and two others, Edwin and 
Ethelstane, with a daughter named Egina. 

About the eleventh year of his reign, the Danes pieroeel 



SS MS L7JB OP MERLHr, 

the land in sundry places, against whom, the king being 
wholly addicted to effeminacy and cowardice, durst make 
no hostile opposure, but for the present, appeased them 
with great sums of money, which being spent, they fell 
to new robberies. Then, the king bribed them with more, 
notwithstanding which, they spoiled Northumberland, and 
at last, laid siege to London, and to increase his sorrow 
and trouble, earl Elphricus, who was admiral of the navy, 
fled like a traitor to the Danes, and took part with them 
against his natural liege, for which, the king commanded 
that his son Algarus, should have his eyes torn out of his 
head. During which time, burning leavers, and the 
bloody flux destroyed many of the natives, to which was 
added scarcity and penury among the commons, insomuch 
that they were forced to rob and steal from one another, 
so that what by their own pilfering and pillage of the Danes, 
the land was brought to extreme misery, by whose continual 
invasions, and the king's pusillanimity, the tribute paid 
to them was raised from 10,000 to 40,000 pounds, (named 
for the continuance thereof Dane-gelt) they yet not satis- 
fied ; to add to the former, the British peers were so hollow 
breasted among themselves, that when they were at any 
time assembled, and had determined any thing to the im- 
peachment of the Danes, they were warned thereof by some 
of the falsehearted counsel, of whom were most suspected 
Elphricus and Edricus, the Snake formerly mentioned in 
the prophecy. 

The land, besides other distresses, continuing under this 
grievous tribute, the king, by the advice of those familiars 
who were about him, married Emma, the daughter of 
Hi chard the third, duke of Normandy, and the first of 
that name, who was for his boldness and valour, surnamed 
Richard the Hardy, or without fear; and she (by the 
French chronicles, Emma the Flower of Normandy, by 
which match, he was greatly animated and encouraged, so 
that presuming on the power of his father-in-law, he sent 
into all the towns, cities, and villages of this land, secret 
and straight commissions, charging the rulers and magis- 
trates, upon the night succeeding the day of St. Brice, 
that all the Danes should be murdered in their beds; the 
execution whereof they committed to their wives and wo- 
xnen,<«Yhich was also accordingly performed, (a strange 



WITH HIS JTRAICGM PROPHECIEf. * 83 

wonde*", fliat so great a secret should pass generally 
through (hat sex without discovery.) 

This general massacre of the Danes, (as fame reports) 
began at a little town in Hertfordshire, 24 miles from Lon- 
don, called Wealwin, from which act it took first name, 
as if there the weal of their country was first warm; and 
the day of St, Brice happened that year upon the Monday, 
which to this day is called Hoc or Hop-Monday, but 
wherefore 1 know not; unless by Hoc, this day as a re- 
markable note to posterity, or by Hop, as that day the 
Danes (according to a proverb we retain from antiquity) 
hopped without their heads. 

Now, concerning the pride of the Danes, and their in- 
credible tyranny excercised throughout the whole king- 
dom, which was the occasion of this their universal slauffh- 
ter, our English historians have thus recorded of them, 
they caused the farmers and husbandmen to plow, sow 
and eare the ground, and to do all the servile labour that 
belonged to agriculture and husbandry, whilst they kept 
their wives, and commanded their daughters and ser- 
vants at their pleasure ; and when the master of the house 
came home, he was forced to salute his superintendant 
Dane as his lord, and whilst the usurper eat and fed on 
the best, the poor oppressed owner could scarcely have 
his fill of the worst; besides, for fear and dread, they 
called them in every house where they had rule lord 
Dane; which, afterwards, when the English had attained 
to their former honour, grew to a title of great opprobry 
and contempt; for, when any one would rebuke or revile 
another, he would nrnscorn call him Lurdan, a word in the 
country in use even to this day. 

But now comes in the Eagle, by which is intended 
Swanus king of Denmark, who surpriseth both, that is, 
subdueth the Saxons and the other Alraans or Germans, 
whom they had admitted into the land; and after infinite 
devastations, depopulations, and spoils, with his broad 
wings soared over the whole kingdom, and made prey in 
every province thereof, (the particulars would ask much 
time and paper) who, in conclusion, took from the white 
Dragon, (the Saxons) after they had held the sovereignty 

x 2 



8t THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

by many successive kings, both crown and sceptre. But, 
before this happened, the unfortunate king, whose only 
fight was frith money, to impoverish his own people, 
and enrich the enemy, (for he often bought bis peace, 
v, Inch proved to no purpose) he made Edricus, whom 
Merlin calleththe Snake, duke of Mercia, who was of low 
and base birth and parentage, yet had attained to great 
wealth and rich possessions, false of tongue, subtle of 
brain, and eloquent in speech, and perfidious in purpose 
and promise, which will more at large appear hereafter. 

In this interim. Swanus so far prevailed, that the king, 
fearing the continual prosecution of the Danes, first sent 
Emma his queen, with his two youngest sons, which were 
Alfred and Edward, to Richard, the second of that name, 
and fourth duke of Normandy, who was her natural bro- 
ther, and afterwards, was compelled to fly thither in 
person, with a slander train of followers; of which, when 
Swanus had notice, he grew inflamed with greater pride 
and insolence ; and amongst other of his tyrannies, he fired 
the city of Canterbury, and slew 900 religious persons, 
tithing them, as killing nine and saving the tenth, with 
8^000 women and children; and because the reverend 
bishop would not, and could not pay him down 3,000 
pounds, he kept him prisoner seven months, and caused 
him afterwards, at Greenwich, four miles from London, 
to be stoned to death. And wheresoever he came, he 
reserved ail the women, to be vitiated and deflowered, as 
well the religious as ethers, robbing the shrine of St. Ed- 
mund, not leaving any cruelty which could find a name, 
unperformed. At length, upon the day of the purification 
of the blessed virgin, in the year 1014, he died miserably, 
howling and crying three days and three nights together 
before his death ; whom succeeded his son (Janutus. And 
two years after, in 1016, expired at London, king Edelfred, 
and was buried in the church of St. Paul ; whom succeed- 
ed his son Edmund, surnamed Ironside ; and these two 
princes were the two Uons spoken of in the former pro- 
phecy, of whom you shall hear more in the ensuing chap- 
ter. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER NINTH, 



Of divers bloody battles 
fought betwixt Canutus and 
Edmund. — Their great oppo- 
sition ended in a single duel. 
— They make peace, and e- 
qually divide the kingdom be- 



tween them. — The traiterous 
death of Edmund. — Canutus 
revengeth it upon the murder, 
er, with other occurences per- 
tinent to the story, &c. 



EDMUND, surnamed Ironside, the son of Esrelredus, 
and Canutus the son of Swanus king of Denmark, 
began to rule over the English nation, anno 1016, and in 
the 29th year of Robert king of France, the Londoners, 
with some of the English nobles, favouring Edmund, but 
the greatest part of the nobility and clergy adhering to 
Canutus, between which young and valiant princes were 
fought sundry cruel and bloody battles, too long here to 
rehearse. In which, infinite both of the natives and strang- 
ers fell by the sword. Oneof which wasfoughtin Dorsetshire, 
besides a town called Gillingham ; another in Worcester- 
shire, which continued from morning till night, when they 
surceased fighting, either for great weariness or for want of 
light, when both hosts joined the next morrow early and 
eagerly; itt which battle, the traitor Edricus perceiving 
the fortune of the day to incline towards Edmund, pitched 
a dead man's head upon a spear, and calling to his conntry- 
men, cried out with this acclamation, Fly you Englishmen, 
and preserve your lives, for, behold, this is the head of 
Edmund your king. Of which, the prince being warned, 
hasted to that part of the field, and plucking off his helmet 
to shew that he was living, so comfortably and courage- 
ously demeaned himself among his soldiers, that in the 
end he had the better of the day, 



86 THB LIFE OP MERLIN, 

In the preparation of another field, when both the hosts 
were ready to join battle, upstarted one of the commanders, 
and appearing between the two armies, in the front of 
either, spake aloud as followcth: " Von princes, both, to 
you 1 declare myself, you see how we daly perish, for 
neither of you gain an absolute victory; Edmund cannot be 
overcome because of his great strength and courage, and 
Canutus cannot be subdued, being also much favoured by 
fortune ; What then shall be the final success of this in- 
veterate malice and contention, when all vour knights and 
soldiers are slain, shall you not be then enforced either to 
compound your enmity, or to fight hand to hand between, 
yourselves; If this must be the end, Why do you not 
one of these two ? For first, Is not the kingdom now 
sufficient for two, which before contented seven? or, if 
your spleen be so great, that it cannot be reconciled by an 
equal division of the land, why do not you two fight alone, 
that strive to be lords alone? For, if we all perish, who 
shall be left either to serve you, or to keep foreign invaders 
out of the land ?" 

Which words were so emphatically delivered, and 
took such impression in both the princes themselves and 
their armies, that a truce being made, they agreed to end 
the war between them in a single duel, for which was 
assigned and isle called Olkney, near Glocester, encom- 
passed wiih the water of the Severn, which makes good the 
prophecy. 

" Two Lions shall a dreadfull combat make, 
And hare their Lists iucompast by a Lake*" 

In which place, at the day prefixed, the two worthy and 
warlike champions, completely armed, singly met, the two 
hosts standing without the isle ; where first they encoun- 
tered with sharp lances on horseback, breaking them even 
to the very truncheons ; then, they alighted, and fought 
long on foot with their keen swords, till their armours were 
broken in divers places, and they both were dangerously 
wounded, when retiring for breath, by the first motion of 
Canutus, they made an accord between themselves, em- 
bracing one another as brothers, to the great rejoicing of 
both armies. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 87 

After which, they made an equal partition of the land, 
and Canutus married Emma the mother of Edmund. But 
the Snake, Edricus, whom his lord had not only pardoned 
for Ids former treason; but promoted unto further dignity, 
by creating him earl of Kent: notwithstanding which, he 
corrupted his son then attending the king, who waited his 
opportunity, and as he was doing the necessities of nature, 
struck him with a spear into the fundament, of which 
mortal wound he died soon afterwards at Oxford* Then 
Edricus posted in haste to Canutus, and saluted him by 
the title of sole sovereign of the kingdom, insinuating, that 
for his love and honour, he had removed his competitor, 
and told him the manner how; which Canutus having 
truly understood, and that the treason was uttered from 
his own mouth, and in his personal hearing, like a just 
and wise prince, he replied unto him, Forasmuch, O 
Edricus, as for my love, thou hast slain thy natural 
lord whom 1 entirely affected, I shall exalt thy head above 
all the lords of England ; and presently commanded his 
head to be struck off, and pitched upon a pole, and set 
upon the highest gate of London, and his body to be 
thrown into the river Thames; yet Marianus and others 
write otherwise concerning the manner of his death, which 
makes good what is formerly spoken, That a speckled 
Snake 

u Ayming athi^ri things shall his Lord betray, 
Poysoaiogthe Royall Nest in which he lay.'' 

Meaning the king's treason, in which the traitor was 
closeted, as one whom he most favoured and honoured. 

Canutus being now sole monarch, the white Dragon 
was forced to stoop to the Eagle, that is, the Saxons were 
compelled to be under the subjection of the Danes, by 
whom they were so miserably oppressed, that scarce the 
tenth part of them were left in the land, and those that 
remained were forced to tithe their goods, and pay it as a 
tribute to the Danes. Therefore saith the prophet, 

€< Of the white Dragon (so the fates agree) 
A Decimation in the end shall be." 

It followeth in the history, in a great assembly made of 



88 



SHE LIFB O* MERUIT, 



the king and his barons, a question was propounded, 
whether in the composition made between Edmund and 
Canutus 3 there was any mention made of Edmund's chil- 
dren to have the inheritance of their father after his death, 
that was, in half part of the kingdom, to which a great 
part of them, thinking to insinuate to the king's favour, 
answered nay; but it happened unto them contrary to 
their expectation, for knowing them to be natural English- 
men, and before sworn to king Edmund and his heirs, he 
hated them for their perjury, never trusting them after- 
wards, but some he exiled, and some were slain, and others, 
being struck by the hand of God, died suddenly. It was 
likewise ordered by the foresaid counsel, that the two sons 
of Ironside, Edmund and Edward , should be sent to 
Swanus, (the eider brother of Canutus) king of Denmark ; 
the purpose is diversly reported, some say to be slain, and 
that Swanus abhorring the act, sent them to Salomon, then 
king of Hungary, where Edmund died of a natural death; 
but his brother Edward in the process of time, married 
Agatha, the daughter of Henry, the fourth of that name, 
emperor, and by her (besides daughters) had a son sur- 
named Ethelinge. This Edward, of our English chrono- 
logers is named the Out-law, because he never returned 
into England, his native country. In this interim, died 
Swanus, king of Denmark, and (he crown fell to Canutus, 
so that he was sole sovereign of both nations, the English 
and the Danes. 

Canutus landed in Denmark with a strong army, to 
possess himself of his lawful inheritance, and to oppose the 
Vandals, who had pierced that land, and while the king 
was otherwise negotiated, earl Goodwin, with a band of 
Englishmen, set upon the invaders by night, and routed 
their whole army, for which noble act, the king had him 
in great favour, and the English nation ever afterwards. 
This king was greatly" beloved of his subjects for many of 
his virtues, as being very charitable and devout, a great 
repairer and decorator of churches, especially of divers 
cathedrals, which he caused to be richly beautified with 
gilt, their altars and roofs more glorious than in former 
ages; thereby, confirming that part of the prophecy: 

tc What time the red shall to his joy behold 
The rooffs of all the Temples shine with gold." 



WITH HIS STRANGK^PEOPHECIES." 8S 

Some attribute the cause of his devotion to a noble care 
he had to repair what his tyrannical father had before 
ruined, that the memory of his atheistical crucify might 
be quite forgot; others that it was at the altar of Emma his 
queen, the widow Dowager of Egelredus, and mother of 
Ironside, who was a lady of great religious sanctity. He 
made also a voyage to Kome, where he was pontifically 
received by Bennet VIII. and demeaned himself with 
great magnificence and honour. It is further reported of 
him, that after his great entertainment there, and return 
from thence, he was so tumored with pride, that stand- 
ing by the side of the Thames at a flowing tide, he charged 
the water that it should presume no further, nor dare to 
touch his feet, which was so far from obeying his command, 
that he still keeping his ground, from his ankles'it came 
up to his knees, at which, suddenly, steeping back out of 
the river, he blushed, and said ; " By this, all earthly kings 
may know that their powers are vain and transitory, and 
that none is worthy of that name but he who created the 
elements, and whom they only obey." 

This Canutus married his eldest daughter by his wife 
Elgina, daughter of the earl of Hampton, to Henry, son 
of theemperor Conadus II. and soon after died at Shaftbury, 
and was buried at Winchester, when he had reigned 19 
years, leaving two sons, Harold, surnamed, for his swift- 
ness in running, Harefoot, and Hardy Canutus, whom in 
his life time, he caused to be crowned king of Denmark,, 
Harold succeeded his father in the crown of England. 
In the beginning of whose reign there was great doubt 
made of the legitimacy of his birth, or whether he was the 
king's son cr no ; but, more especially by earl Goodwin, 
who was a man of a turbulent spirit, who, to the utmost of 
his power, would have disinherited him, and conferred 
the kingdom to his brother. But Leoffricus, whom the 
king much loved and trusted, by the assistance of the 
Danes, opposed Goodwin and his son mightily, so that 
they were utterly disappointed of their purpose. 

Harold was no sooner settled in the kingdom, but he 
robbed his step-mother Emma, (that good and devout 
lady) of her jewels and treasure, and then banished her 
from the land; wherefore, she sailed to Baldwin, earl of 



1 

dO THE LIFE OF MERLIX, &<S. 

Flanders, where she was nobly entertained, and continued 
all the reign of this Harold, in which he did nothing 
worth register, or deserving memory ; who, after three 
years and some few months, died at London, (or as some 
say at Oxford) and haying no issue, left his brother, 
Hardy Canutus, heir to the crown, with the death of whose 
elder brother I conclude this chapter* 



liWJl* *m 



. ..■ ■ ...■ . ..w.^^ ^ r^ M ... ... _■» ., Y ' fTjMg'i^- ' ' " " ' - '" '' " " ""J | 1"1"»W 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTEft TENTH, 



Merlin's prophecy of Har- 
dy Canutus and earl Goodwin, 
which accordingly happened. 
— His many tyrannies, among 
others, his tithing of the Nor- 
man gentlemen. — The death of 



prince Alured.son to Canutus 
and Emma. — The strange death 
of earl Goodwin.— After the 
death of Edward the Confess- 
or, Harold, earl Goodwin's 
son usurpeth. 




OU see how hitherto Merlin hath predicted nothing 
which the success and event have not made good* 
We will yet examine him farther, and prove if he will 
be as faithful in the future as the former. Who thus 
proceedeth : 

u And Helluo then with open jaws shall yawne, 
Devouring even till midnight from the dawn : 
And he an Hydra with seven heads shall grace, 
Glad to behold the ruine of his race, 
And then upon the Neustrian bloud shall prey, 
And tithe them by the pole (now well away) 
Burst shall he after gorg'd with humane blood, 
And leave his name in part of the salt flood. 
Iron men, in woodden Tents shall here arrive, 
And hence the Saxons with her Eglets drive, &c." 

It followeth in the history, Hardy Canutus, the son of 
Canutus and Emma, began his reign over England in the 
year of grace 1041, who was of such cruelty, that 
he was no sooner settled in the state, but he presently sent 
Alphricus, arch-bishop of York, and earl Goodwin to 
Westminster, to take up the body of his dear brother, and 
to part the head from the shoulders^ and oast them 

m 2 



92 THE LIFE OF MEItLIN, 

info the river Thames, which was by them accordingly 
performed ; the cause thereunto moving, was for rifling, 
and afterwards exiling his mother Emma, whom he caused 
with great honour to be brought again into the land. 

lie revived also, the (alrrvost forgotten) tribute called 
Pane-gelt, which he spent in drinking deep and feeding 
high, for these were his delight; for, besides his immoderate 
quaffing, he had the tables through his court, spied four 
times a day, with all the riot and excess that might be 
devised. Who himself minding only gormandizing and 
voraci'y, committed the whole rule of the land to Emma 
aid Goodwin, (who had married the daughter of Canutus, 
by his first wife Elgina) by whom many things were much 
mi&ordered, to the great discontent of the commons. This 
earl had many sons ^as witnesseth Polichronicon, lib. 6. 
chap 15.) by his first wife, who was sister to Canutus, he^ 
had but one, who by the striking of a horse was thrown into 
Thames, and there drowned,' whose mother, afterwards, 
died by lightning, and was of such incontinent life, that 
she prostituted virgins and young women, to make base 
and mercenary use of their bodies. She dead, he married 
a second, of whom he begot six sons, Swanus, Harold, 
Tostius, Wilnotus, Syrthe or Surthe, and Leofricus, with 
a daughter named Goditha, who afterwards was married to 
Edward the Confessor, 

Hardy Canutus, wholly devoted to all voluptuousness, 
being at a feast at Lambeth, in the midst of his mirth and 
jollity, drinking a carouse out of a bowl elbow deep, fell 
down suddenly, and rested speechless for the space of 
eight days; at the end of which he expired the eighth of 
June, when he had reigned two complete years, leaving 
no issue lawful of his body, and was buried by his father 
at Winchester, in whom ended the line and progeny of 
Swanus, so that after this king the blood of the Danes was 
quite extinct, and made incapable of any regal dignity 
within this land. Their bloody prosecution ceasing, 
which had continued (counting from their first landing m 
the time of Brightricus, king of the west Saxons) for the 
space of 255 years or thereabouts. By this Hardy Canu- 
tus, Merlin intended his Helluo^ as being a gluttonous 



WITH HI* «TRAN§E PROPHECIES. 83 

prince, whose bibacity and voracity would continue from 
morning till midnight : in the first year of whose reign 

The two sons of Egelredus and Emma, namely Alfred 
and Edward ; who before were sent into Normandy, came 
into England to see their mother, and were princely at- 
tended by a great number of brave Norman knights and 
gentlemen, of which earl Goodwin (that subtle and se- 
zenheaded Hydra before spoken of) having notice, began 
to plot and devise how to match his only daughter, Go- 
ditha, to one of the two princes, but finding Alured, the 
eldest, to be of an high and haughty spirit, and would 
disdain so mean a marriage ; he thought, by supplanting 
him, to confer her upon the younger, who was of more 
flexible disposition, to compass which, he pretended to 
the king aud council, that it might prove dangerous to 
the state to suffer so many strangers to enter the land with- 
out licence. 

By which, he got power and authority to manage that 
business according to his own discretion, as being most 
potent with the king, and a great encourager of his pro- 
fuseness and riot. Therefore, being strongly accompanied, 
he met the two princes and their train, and set upon 
them as enemies, killing the greatest part of them at the 
first encounter, and having surprised the rest upon a place 
called Guil-downs, slew nine and saved the tenth, and 
then, thinking the number of the survivors too great, he 
tithed again that tenth, putting them to cruel deaths, as 
winding their guts out of their bellies, with other torturing 
deaths ; then, he caused the eldest brother's eyes to be 
plucked out, and sent to a religious house in Ely, where 
lie died soon afterwards; but the youngest he preserved 
as an husband for his daughter, and sent him to his mother 
Emma. All which fulfils the former prophecy, which saith : 

il And he an Hidra with seyen heads shall grace, 
^•sGlad to behold the ruin of his race. 
And then upon the Neustrian blood shall pray, 
And tithe them by the pole, &c." 

Emma, not trusting the tyranny of Goodwin, by whom 
she had left one son, the better to secure the other, 



§4 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

she sent him (o Normandy; but Hardy Cunuins being 
dead, he was sent for to receive his just and lawful 
inheritance; so that this Edward, the son of Egclredus 
and his last wife, Emma, began his reign over England 
in the year of grace 1013, and was soon afterwards married 
to Goditha (whom Guido calleth Editba) the sole daugh- 
ter of earl Goodwin, who, as all authors ainrm, lived with 
her without any carnal society; whether it was in hatred 
of her kindred, as by the greatness of her father compelled 
to that match, or for that he altogether devoted himself to 
chastity, it is left uncertain. 

In the beginning of his reign, his mother Emma was 
accused to have too much familiarity with the bishop of 
"Winchester; therefore, the king, by the councel of earl 
Goodwin, seized upon many of her jewels, and confined 
her to a strickt keeping in the abbey of Worwell, the 
bishop, Alwin, was also under the custody of the clergy; 
but she more sorrowing for his defame than her own, 
wrote unto divers bishops to do their justice, affirming she 
was ready to undergo any trial whatsoever, to give the 
world satisfaction of her innocence, who laboured to the 
king that their cause might have a just and legal hearing ; 
but Robert, arch-bishop of Canterbury, not pleased with the 
motion, said unto them, a My brethren bishops, how dare 
ye plead for her, who is a beast and no woman ? as by- 
defaming the king and her son, and yielding herself a 
prostitute to the incontinent Alwin ; (proceeding further) 
but if it be so that the woman would purge the priest, who 
shall then purge the woman, who is accused to have been 
consenting to the death of her son Alfred, and hath pre- 
pared infectious drugs to the poisoning of her son Edward. 
But, be she guilty or no, if she will agree to go bare foot 
upon nine plow-shares burning and fiery hot, for herself 
four shares, and for the bishop five, he may then be clear- 
ed, and she also. 

To which she granted, and the day of her purgation 
assigned ; at which day, the king in person, with many 
of his lords were present, she was hood- winked, and led 
to the place where the irons lay glowing hot, and having 
passed over the nine shares unhurt, she said, Good God, 
When shall 1 come to the place ot my purgation ? When 



TTITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 95 

(hey opened her eye*, and she saw that she had passed the 
torment without any sense of pain, she kneeled down, and 
gave thanks to the protector of chastity and innocence. Then 
the kino; repented him of his credulity, restoring to her what 
he had before taken from her, asking of her forgiveness and 
blessing. But the archbishop Robert, who was once a 
monk in Normandy, and was sent for over by the king, and 
first made bishop of London, and afterwards, raised to be 
metropolitan, fled into his country, and was no more seen 
in England. 

After many insolencies committed against the king by 
earl Goodwin and his sons, (too long here to rehearse) they 
were forced to abandon the land, and fly into Flanders to 
earl Baldwin, (whose daughter Judith, Swanus his eldest 
son had married) and then, by a parliament, they were 
made out-laws and rebels, and their goods and lands sei- 
zed; where they continued as exiles for the space of two 
years, during which time, William the bastard duke of 
Normandy, came with a noble train to visit the kino- } r ; s 
cousin, and were royally entertained, returning with great- 
gifts and presents into his country, after which, Goodwin 
by intercession of his friends here in England, was called 
home, with his sons, who were received into grace, and 
restored to their former dignities and possessions ; ^ivino- 
for pledges of his fidelity, his son Wilnotus, and Hucun 
the son of Swanus, whom the king sent to William, duke 
of Normandy, to be kept in safe custody. 

Not long afterwards, in the 12th year of the reign of this 
Edward the Confessor, upon an Easter-Monday, Goodwin 
sitting with other lords at the king's table, in the Castle of 
Windsor, it happened that the "king's cup-bearer stum- 
bled, but recovered himself of the fail, at which the earl 
laughed heartily, and said, There ! one brother helped the 
other; 'which the king observing, said, yea, a nd so my 
brother Alfred might have lived to help' and sustain me, 
had it not been for earl Goodwin, by which words the 
earl apprehending that he upbraided Mm with his bro- 
ther's death, thinking to excuse himself of the act, said, 
&o may 1 safely swallow this morsel of bread that is in my 
hand, as I am innocent of that deed ; in swallowing of 
which, he was choaked! which the king seeing, com- 



96 *HB LIFE ©F MERLIN, 

manded him to be dragged from the board, his body 
being conveyed to Winchester, and there interred. Ma- 
crianus saith, That he was suddenly struck with a palsy, of 
which he died three davs afterwards ! Howsoever, he 
underwent a most remarkable judgment. His eldest son 
Jiving, who was Harold, (for Swanus died in his pilgrimage 
to Jerusalem) had all his father's dignities and honours 
conferred upon him. But, in process of time, all those 
his lands in Kent (of which he was earl) were eaten up 
and devoured by the sea; upon whose dangerous shelves 
and quicksands, many thousands have been wrecked and 
drowned, and they are called Goodwin's Sands unto this 
day, which verifieth that part of the prophecy of the 
Hydra, where he saith : 

6C Burst shall he after gorg'd with humane blood, 
And leave his name in part of the salt flood." 

Harold having done many noble services for the king 
and the country, in all which he came off with great honour 
and victory. About the 20th year of king Edward, he 
sailed towards Normandy, to visit his brother Wilaotus, 
and his nephew Hucun* who lay there at pledges for 
the peace between the king and earl Goodwin, but either 
by the mistake of the unskillful pilot, or by the extremity 
of tempests, he was driven upon the province of Pountithe, 
and there surprised, and sent as prisoner to William, duke 
of Normandy, who, some say, forced him to take an oath to 
marry his daughter, and keep the kingdom of England to 
his behoof. But that which carrieth more shew of truth, 
is that Harold, to insinuate into the duke's favour, in 
whose power he now was, told him that his king, in the 
presence of his baronry, had selected him his heir, and 
covenanted with him, that if he survived his sovereign, he 
would keep the crown to his use ; for which the duke gave 
him his daughter in contract, with promise of a large 
dowry ; but she was yet in her minority, not ripe tor 
marriage; in conformation of which, duke William gave 
him also his brother's son, Hucun, one of the hostages, 
and kept the other, and afterwards, sent him over with 
rich gifts. All which at his return to England, he acquaint- 
ed the king with, whoexpired the fourth day of January, 
when he had reigned 23 years, seven months, and some 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 97 

odd days, and lies buried in the monastery of Westmin- 
ster, which he before had much repaired and beautified. 

Whom succeeded in the throne, Harold, the second 
son of earl Goodwin, and last king of the Saxons, who 
began his reign over England in the year 1046; the am- 
bition to gram a crown, making him to forget his oath and 
promise made to duke William. In the beginning of his 
reign, his land was invaded by his brother Tostius, who 
was beat out of the kingdom by Edwin and Malcharus, 
earls of Mercia and Northumberland. Then Harold 
Harfagar, king of Denmark and Norway, (whom Gnido, 
the historiographer, calleth the son of Canutus) hearing 
of the death of Edward, with a fleet of 300 ships, entered 
the mouth of the river Tyne, pretending to conquer England, 
as his right and lawful inheritance; which Harold hearing, 
sent the two foresaid earls of Mercia and Northumberland, 
till he himself had gathered sufficient forces; who gave 
the Danes a strong battle; but, being overset with multi- 
tudes, they were forced to give back, so that the enemy 
entered further into the land; which the king hearing, 
Harold with his powers made haste, and met them at a 
place called Stratford bridge. In which interim, Tostius 
came out of Scotland, and took part against his brother. 
Between these two hosts, was fought a bloody and cruel 
battle, in which many brave knights breathed their last, 
and amongst them Tostius. The two Harolds of En£- 
land and of Denmark, met, and fought hand to hand, in 
which combat, Harold of Denmark, fell under the hand 
of Harold of England, who was likewise master of the 
field, in which Oianus, brother to Harfagar, and Paulus, 
duke of the Orcades, were taken prisoners; of whom, 
Harold took sure pledges for their fidelity and homage. 



Number I1L w 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER ELEVENTH. 



The landing of duke Wil- 
liam with the Normans.— The 
"battle between him and Harold; 
in which Harold is slain, being 
the last king of the Saxon 



blood. William remaineth 

conqueror, and is crowned 
king of England. —His death, 
and the success of the prophe- 
cy. 




ARGLD, ambitiously puffed up with his great 

victory, divided not the spoil taken from the enemy 

equally, but avariciously kept the greater part to his own 

use, and the remainder he distributed, not to those who 

had best fought, but to those whom he most favoured, 

by reason whereof, he lost the hearts of many of his 

knights. In this interim, died the daughter of duke 

William, (before contracted to Harold) by which, he 

thought himself fully discharged of his former duty and 

promise : but duke William was of a contrary mind, and 

by divers messengers, mixing fair terms with menaces, put 

him in remembrance of the breach of both, to which 

Harold gave a slight answer, that rash and unadvised 

covenants might be as well violated as kept; that it was 

not in his power to dispose of the crown and kingdom, 

without the assent of the peers and barons of the realm: 

besides, oaths and promises, made either by fear or force, 

were of no validity, and therefore, left him to take what 

course he pleased, according to his best direction, for 

that was his peremptory answer. 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 99 

At which, duke William being much incensed, ga- 
thered a select army, which he caused to be shipped with 
all things necessary for so great an enterprize, and launch- 
ing from the port of St. Valery, in a short time, landed 
near Hastings in Sussex, at a place called Penusy, making 
three pretences for his invasion : The first and chief was 
to challenge his right to the crown, as next heir, and 
moreover bequeathed to him, by his nephew, Edward the 
Confessor, upon his death bed. The second was to vindi- 
cate the bloody murder of his cousin Alfred, and brother 
of the late king, committed by earl Goodwin upon Guil- 
down, which was done (as he pretended) by the special 
instigation of Harold. The third was to revenge the 
banishment of arch-bishop Robert (before remembered in 
the accusation of queen Emma) with which, also, he 
chargeth Harold, as the sole animator of his exile. And 
hitherto Merlin's prophecies admit no contradiction, when 
he saith : 

u Iron men, in wooden Tents shall here arrive, 
And hence the Saxons with the Eglets drive." 

By the Ironmen, meaning the Normans, in iron casks 
and corslets ; by wooden tents , their navigable vessels, 
who in Harold extinguished the blood of the white Dragon, 
the Saxons, and expelled the Eglets, who were the Danes, 
the brood of Swanus in that princely bird so emblematized. 
The story followeth, duke William landing, one of his feet 
slipped and the other stuck fast in the sand; which, one of 
his knights observing, cried aloud, A good omen, now 
William, England is thine own, and thou shalt change 
the title of duke unto king : at which he smiled, and 
piercing further into the land, he made proclamation, 
that no man should take any prey, or make any spoil, or 
do any violence to the natives ; saying, it was no reason 
that he should offer outrage to that which should be his 
own. 

Harold was at this time in the north, who hearing the 
Normans were landed, gathered his forces by the way as 
he came, to supply his army, which was much weakened 
by reason of the last battle fought against the Danes and 

x 2^ 



100 THE LIFE 0¥ MERLIN, 

Norways, and sending spies into the duke's host to discover 
their strength, word was brought him, that his soldiers 
were all priests aud lawyers, haying their upper lips, chins, 
and cheeks shaven, (which was their custom then, and the 
English used to wear their rnouchatos thick and long) to 
which Harold answered, but we shall find them neither 
baremen nor bookmen, but valiant knights, expert in all 
manner of warlike discipline. Then Gurth or Syrth, one 
of the youngest brothers of Harold, advised him in person 
to stand apart, and that himself with the lords and barons 
would encounter the Normans, because he was sworn to the 
duke, and they not; and if they were put back, he then 
might rally their dispersed troops, and maintain his own 
claim and his country's quarrel, to which he would Try no 
means assent. 

Then duke William, by a clergyman, sent him three 
proffers, of which to take his choice: The first, that ac- 
cording to his oath, he should deliver up the crown, and 
all the rights thereto belonging ; which done, to receive it 
again, and hold it of him as in fee during the term of his life, 
and after his death, to return it again to the said William, 
or to such a one of his sons as he would assign it unto. 
The second, to depart and leave the kingdom without 
more contention. The third, that to spare the shedding of 
christian blood, they might fight two singly, and end the 
quarrel by the sword. All which proffers, Harold refu- 
ged, returning him answer by the prelate, that he would 
try his cause by the dint of swords, and not of one sword, 
and that he. and his knights were ready to defend their 
country against all foreign invaders whatsoever. The 
duke hearing this his answer delivered unto him, gave 
a strict charge, that all his people, that night, should watch 
and spend the hours in prayer with the priest, when on 
the contrary, the English host passed away the time in 
dancing and drinking. 

The next morning, (being Saturday) the 14<h day of 
October, the two hosts met at a place where now standeth 
Battle Abby, in Sussex, (which was afterwards built, and 
so called by duke William, in memory of this battle there 
jought, and his great victory then achieved) in the begin- 
ning of which conflict, a Norman banneret called Thilfer, 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 101 

slew three English gentlemen, one after another, but in 
attempting the fourth, was himself slain. Then began a 
terrible noise of the clattering of harness, the rushing of 
shields, the trampling of horses, with loud cries and 
acclamations on both sides, which the Normans opposed 
mightily, and the English defended themselves manfully, 
and the better, because they fought close, keeping their battle 
whole without scattering or ranging abroad, which when 
duke William observed, be gave a sign to his commanders 
that they should give back, as if they were almost com- 
pelled to fly and forsake the field, yet subtly embattling 
the foot, and placing the horse for wings on either side: 
the English hoping intantly to have routed them, disseve- 
red their squadrons as for present pursuit; but, the Nor- 
mans returning, took them at that disadvantage, and 
struck them down on every side: yet was this battle so stoutly 
fought by the Englishmen, that duke William, was there 
that day, beaten from his steed, and three horses slain 
under him: but, in the end, Harold was slain, being shot 
into the eye with an arrow, and fell down dead in the field ; 
which his army seeing, they dispersed themselves, and 
every man fled to his best safety. 

Thus died this valiant king Harold, having worn the 
crown from the fifth of January to the fourteenth of 
October, making up nine months and some odd days, and 
was buried in the monastery of Waltham, which he him- 
self had founded, in whom ended the blood of the Saxons, 
which had continued from the beginning of king Hengist's 
reign, for the space of 581 years, all which time they had 
reigned as kings in this land, saving those '24 years, in 
which Edward the Confessor had the sovereignty) who 
was of the Norman blood by his mother Emma, daughter 
to Richard the Hardy, the third duke of Normandy, and 
first of that name. 

Then, duke William buried bis slain men, and suffered 
the English to do the like. Now, when the news of Ha- 
rold's death came to the two ear is of Mercia and North- 
umberland, who were not then in that battle; some think, 
that by reason of the distance and difficulty of the way, 
they could not arrive with their forces soon enough ; but 
others have conjectured, that they purposely absented 



102 fHE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

fbemselves, because, in the division of the Danish spoils 
<hey were neglected, but howsoever, they came to duke 
William, and submitted themselves, giving pledges for 
their truth and fealty. Thus, William, duke of Nor- 
mandy, surnamed the conqueror, base son to Robert, the 
sixth duke of that province, and nephew to Edward the 
Confessor, began his dominion over this realm of England, 
in the year of grace 10b9, the 15th day of October, and 
was crowned upon Christmas day (by Aldredus, arch- 
bishop of York) next following. 1 now proceed to Mer- 
lin's next prophecy. 

<c He that Iron Nation who leads forth for prey, 
Shall find fall spoils, and where he feeds will stay : 
Suppressing the red Dragon for a space. 
Then shall arise two Dragons from his race: 
One, aymes at, but attains not his desire. 
By Envies Dart the other shall expire. 
The Lion next of Justice must appeare, 
Who 'gainst the Celticke Towers will ladders reare. 
And cause the Lily like the Aspen shake, 
Whose rore shall all the Island Serpents quake. 
(A cunning Alcumist) who hath the skill, 
Gold, both from flowers, and Nettles to distill." 

The first part is plain and easy, the appearance whereof 
is gathered from the former circumstances. Under the 
man, who leadeth the iron nation forth to pre?/, is figured 
the Conqueror, who brought into this kingdom, the 
strongly armed JVormans, where, finding fat spoil, that is, 
a rich and fertile island, where he feeds will stay; that 
is, where he fareth well, and hath all things in his power, 
to his will and pleasure, there he will make his abode and 
plant himself, suppressing the red Dragon for a space, 
that is, the first Britains, after mingled with the Saxons, 
and from Hengist's men, called Englishmen, then with the 
Danes, and now again oppressed by the Normans, yet was 
the blood of the first natives (howsoever mingled) never 
extinguished, and the nation, howsoever, extremely suff- 
ering, yet never altogether eradicated and extirped. But 
to pass over the reign of the conquered, (because no fur- 
ther aimed at by my author) J proceed to the rest: 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 103 

■ 

u Then shall two Dragons issue from his race." 

Meaning from duke William now living, (by which 
two Dragons are intimated his two eldest sons, Robert, 
surnamed Corthose or Shorthose, and William Rufus, so 
stiled because of his ruff hair and beard.) 

This Robert, the eldest, because he might not be pos- 
sessed of the duchy of Normandy, which his father had 
before promised him, he, by the aid of the French king, 
Phillip, and Lewis his son, invaded that duchy, and 
took divers prizes thence ; which put his father to much 
grievance and trouble; insomuch, that at length, the 
father and the son, with two great hosts, met in the plain 
field, where, betwixt them, was fought a cruel and bloody 
battle, in which, king William was wounded, and beaten 
from his horse, and in great danger to be taken or slain; 
which, his son Robert hearing, in true filial piety, re- 
stored his father, set him upon a fresh horse, and delivered 
him from all danger. Howsover, in that conflict, many of 
the king's men fell by the sword, and his son, William, re- 
ceived many wounds, so that they were compelled to for- 
sake the field, and yield the honour thereof to his son 
Robert; for which rebellion, as some have related, he laid 
an heavy curse upon him, which proved fatal unto him in 
the end. 

Some write, that by the leaping of a horse he got such a 
strain, (meaning king William) that it was the cause of 
his death, and when he found that he was past hope of 
life, he called his three sons unto him, exhorting them to 
fraternal love and unity; and by his will, appointed to 
Robert, the eldest, the duchy of Normandy ; to William, 
the second, the kingdom of England; and to his third 
son, Henry, ( because he was a piece of a scholar, surnamed 
JBeauclerk) he bequeathed his moveables and treasure; 
then he informed his two eldest sons of the disposition of 
the people, whom they were to govern; advising William 
to be affable, courteous, and liberal to the English, and 
Robert to behave himself, roughly and sternly towards the 
Normans. Which having uttered, he died within few 
hours after in Normandy, and was buried in the city of 
Cane, in the third year of his duchy, but of his reign 



104 THE LIFE OP MERL1V, &C. 

over England, SI years and 10 months, in the month of 
July. In which time of his sovereignty, he kept the 
English so straight and low, that none of the nation bore 
any office of profit or honour, but he somewhat favoured 
the city of London, by granting them their first charter, 
which is written in the Saxon tongue, and sealed with 
green wax, and is comprehended in eight or nine lines 
at the most. With whose death I also •onclude this 
chapter. 



-5 



* j » iyupmimip.i l 

i II BA* ii ■ 



- **-y :?_ tt' 



rtla 



■■■hi gji>«< 



— ,~ — HMN 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWELFTH. 



The prediction of the two 
Dragons made good by the 
subsequent history in Robert 
and William,the two sons of the 



Conqueror. — Who the Lion 
of Justice was, and what was 
meant by his alchymy t &c. 



WILLIAM, the second of that name, sumamed 
Rufus or the Red, began his reign in the month 
of July, in the year of grace 1089, but Rainolf, monk of 
Chester, in his polychronicon, affirms that Robert was 
absent at the death of his father, and having heard that 
he had preferred his younger brother to the crown of 
England, he was greatly enraged, and laid his dukedom 
to pawn to his brother Henry for certain sums of money, 
with which be had hired an army, and landed at Hamp- 
ton ; of which, his brother having intelligence, sent unto 
him with this submission following, Thy brother Wil- 
liam intreateth thee to be no way incensed at what he hath 
done, for he calleth himself not absolutely king, but viceroy 
and thy substitute, and to reign under tbee, being greater, 
and therein better, because before him born, who hath 
taken upon him this charge, only because of thine absence; 
yet since he is now in place and authority by thy sufferance, 
he humbly prayeth thee, that he may under thee still so 
continue, paying unto thee annually 3,000 marks, with 
condition, that the survivor of the two may peaceably 
enjoy the kingdom. 

Duke Robert, who was not unacquainted with the politic 
proceedings of his brother, shaked his head, and began to 
pause about an answer, and being of a loving and gentle 
disposition, bountiful withal, and still, preferring his 



106 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

honour before his profit, (as in all his after proceedings 
he made manifest) condescended to his brother's request, 
and returned into Normandy; but William was of a more 
subtle and crafty condition, and yet, withal, ambitious 
after vain -glory ; to maintain which, he extorted both 
from the spiritualty and temporalty. He builded West- 
minster hall, and by reason that his brother Robert was 
then in the holy wars, to redeem Jerusalem from the 
pagans, he spent some time in Normandy, about his 
brother's affairs. But, at his return, the building of the 
hall being finished, he seemed much discontented with the 
littleness thereof, saying, it was more fit for a dining 
chamber than a king's half, purposing, if he had lived, 
to have made a far greater. 

In the beginning of the 13th year of his reign, the third 
day of August, being hunting in the new forest, by the 
glancing of an arrow shot by the hand of one Sir Walter 
Tyrrel, the king was wounded to death, in the 44th year 
of his age; who escaped and saved himself, for none pur- 
sued him, and few (in regard of his former tyranny) were 
sorrowful for his death. Some think that this arrow was 
purposely aimed at him, to fulfil the prophecy of the two 
brothers : 

(C One aimes at, but attains not his desire, \ 
By envies dart the other shall expire. 

Now r , Robert, though he still aimed at the kingdom, yet 
never attained unto it, and the other died, according to 
Merlin's words, spkulio invidce, (by the dart of envy.) 
The king, thus wounded, was laid in a horse-litter, and 
conveyed to Winchester, where he died, and was buried. 
In his life time, he took upon him great things; the day 
before he died, one asked him, where he purposed to keep 
his Christmas, to which he answered, at Poictiers, for the 
e arl intendeth a voyage for Jerusalem, meaning to seize 
upon his earldom. 

Henry of Huntington reporteth of him, that though he 
was generally reported avaricious and gripple-handed, yet 
he was in his own condition, bountiful and liberal, as may 
appear by the narration following: The abbot of a great 



WITH HIS STRAN6E PROPHECIES. 107 

■ 

monastery being dead, two well-monied monks of the 
same place, made friends to the king, offering large sums 
to be promoted to that dignity ; there was, also, a third 
monk, who, out of his meekness and humility, had ac- 
companied them to the court, and to give attendance on 
him, whom the king should admit to be abbot; who 
called to the monks severally, and either of them out-bid 
the other ; the king casting his eye upon the third, (who 
came as their servant) thinking his business had been to 
the same purpose, demanded of him, if he would give 
more than his brethren had proffered ; who answered him 
again that he would neither offer nor give to the value of one 
penny, neither would he take any such charge upon him, 
which came unlawfully by simony. Whose words, 
when the king had duly considered, he said, that he of 
the three was best worthy to take so holy a charge upon 
hirn, and gave it him freely. 

Duke Robert, being at this time in the holy wars, the 
youngest brother, Henry, third son to the Conqueror, and 
first of that name, began his reign the fifth day of August, 
in the year of our Lord 1101, and this was he, whom 
Merlin calls Leo Justitice^ the Lion of Justice; who banish- 
ed from his court all flattering and effeminate sycophants. 
He was also abstinent, and abhorring gormandizing and 
the excess offcasts; he was, further, well studied in the 
seven liberal arts, and used to fight more with council 
than the sword ; and yet, upon just occasion, he would 
shew himself as valiant as he proved fortunate. 

In the second year of whose reign, Robert, his brother, 
being then employed in the wars of Palastine, against the 
miscreants and infidels, receiving news that his brother 
vv illiam was dead, and that his brother Henry had usur- 
ped the crown of England, notwithstanding that the Chris- 
tian princes offered to make him king of Jerusalem, yet 
he refused that honour, but with great speed returned into 
Normandy, and there raised forces, to claim his right into 
the crown of England, and landed at Portsmouth, butamedi- 
tation of peace was made between them, and that he should 
have the yearly revenue of 3,000 marks, which he had in 
the days of king William ; with which he returned fully 
satisfied, at which his lords and peers were much discon- 

o 2 



1C8 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

* 

tented, as also, for other things, which in his easy nature 
he had yielded to, both against his honour and profit; for 
which, he was by them less regarded, and at the end, quite 
neglected. 

This Robert, in his father's days, was in all his enter- 
prizes victorious, and afterwards, did many brave exploits 
at the siege of Acan, against the Turks ; and (as is before 
said) was, by the great suffrage of the Christian host, 
chosen king of Jerusalem; but whether he thought it to 
be an honour with too much trouble, or for the covetonsness 
of the crown of England, he made refusal thereof, for 
which it hath been thought, that he sped the worse in all 
his endeavours afterwards; for a dissention fell between 
him and his nobles, so that they sent to king Henry, 
his brother, that if he would come over into Normandy, 
they would deliver up the whole country into his hands, 
and acknowledge him their sole lord and governor, of 
which proffer, it is said, Henry accepted ; but before any 
hostility was threatened, Robert came into England, to 
visit his brother and new sister, (for the king was lately 
married to Maud, the daughter of Malcomb, king of 
Scotland) at whose request, he released to his brother the 
tribute of 3,000 marks a year, and so departed. 

Notwithstanding which, by the instigation of bad and 
wicked counsellors, this seeming brotherly love was quite 
abrogated and dissolved, so that the king, with a strong 
army, invaded Normandy, and by reason that Robert's 
peers and nobles fell from him, he chaced him from place 
to place, and won his cities. Cane, Roan, and Faloys, with 
all other places defencible, so that Robert was forced to 
desire aid of Philip, the French king, and afterwards of 
the earl of Flanders, but they both failed him, so that 
with those few forces which he could make, he gave battle 
to his brother, in which he was surprised, and taken pri- 
soner, and seat over into England, and put into the castle 
of Cardiff in Wales, where he remained his whole life 
time, and being dead, was buried at Glocester ; and thus, he 
who might have been king of Jerusalem, and twice king of 
England, (had he taken the opportunity offered him) 
died with no greater title than the bare duke of Normandy. 

Wars then grew between the king of England and the 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 109 

French king, in which they sped diversly, -but at the end, 
Henry beat him in his own country, and hid of him a 
glorious victory, to the great terror and astonishment of 
all the French nation, and those lesser princes of his confe- 
deracy, making good that part of the prophecy: 

" The Lion next of Justice, shall appeare* 
Who 'gainst the CeUicke Towers shall ladders reare, 
And cause the Lily like the Aspen shake, 
Whose rore shall all the Island Serpents quake." 

By the Lilt/ is meant the Flower de Lyce, which the 
French king bears in his scutcheon, which was said to 
quake like an aspen, (whose leaf, of all others, is soonest 
moved by the wind) by reason of the great affright and 
terror he put the French into at the noise of his drums, 
the thundering of his horses' hoofs, and the loudness of 
his warlike instruments. 

About the 30th year of this king's reign, when he had 
been three years together in Normandy, the king took 
shipping atHarflute, (a part of that duchy) the 24th day 
of November, and arrived safe in England not many hours 
after. And soon afterwards, his two sons, William, who 
was duke of Normandy, with Richard his brother, with 
Notha the countess of Parsy, Richard, earl of Chester, with 
his wife, the king's niece, the arch-deacon of Hereford, 
with knights, gentlemen, and others, to the number of 140 
persons, took shipping at the same port, to follow the 
king, but in their passage, the ship sunk under them, and 
they were all drowned to one man, saving a butcher, who 
reported that this disastrous misfortune fell by the negli- 
gence of the master and sailors ; who, in the night, being 
at dissention among themselves, ran the vessel upon a 
rock, and split her. From which danger, the young duke, 
William, was escaped, by getting into a boat near the 
shore; but, when he heard the lamentable out-cry of the 
countess Notha, he commanded the rowers to row back, 
and if it was possible, to save her life ; who, having reco- 
vered her into the boat, they were, by a tempestous gust, 
so over-charged, that it was violently overturned, and 
they were all swallowed by the sea; of which strange ac- 
cident, Merlin also prophesied in these words : 



113 the life of merlin, 

" The Liens whelps their nature shall forsake^ 
And upon them, the shape of iishes take." 

The king, to maintain his former wars, which proved 
so terrible to the French and others, was forced to exact 
money from all manner of people, not sparing the clergy 
nor the laity, and therefore, Merlin calls him, 

t6 A cunning Alcumist, who hath the skill 
Gold, both from flowers, and nettles to distill. " 

By the flowers , meaning the spiritualty; by the nettles, 
the temporally. In the 27th year of this king's reign, 
died Henry, the fourth emperor of that name, who had 
before married Maud, the daughter of Henry, king of 
England ; after whose death, she came to her father in 
Normandy, who, because he had no male heir left of his 
body, he caused all the bishops and barons, to swear in his 
presence, that they should keep the crown of England to., 
the use of this Maud the empress, if he died without male 
issue, and she surviving. 

In the 28th year of his sovereignty, Jeffrey Plantaginet, 
earl of Anjou, was espoused unto Maud the empress, from 
whom descended Henry the second, surnamed Short- 
mantle, who after Stephen was king of England. King 
William being in Normandy, (as some write) fell either 
with his horse or from his horse, which, afterwards, was 
the cause of his death. But Ranolph saith, that he took 
a surfeit by eating a lamprey, and died of that, when he 
had reigned 35 years, and some odd months, whose body, 
when it was embowelied, before it could be embalmed, 
cast such a stench, that none could abide the place where 
it was dissected, and though it was wrapped in a bull's 
skin, yet it little abated the smell, insomuch that divers 
were infected therewith, and the surgeon who cleansed 
the head, died of the unwholsome scent which proceeded 
from the brain, which some conjectured to be a just 
judgment, laid upon him for his merciless cruelty shewed 
upon his brother Robert, whose eyes (as some have repor- 
ted) he caused to be torn out of his head during his im- 
prisonment. His body was brought into England, and 
was afterwards buried in the abbey of Readings which 



WITH HIS STRANGE PHOPHECIES. 



Hi 



he before had founded. After whose death, fame spoke 
of him as of all other princes, both In the better and worse 
part. Divers said of him, that he passed his predecessor 
kings, in three things, in wit, in eloquence, and good 
success in battle; and others spared not to say that he was 
pestilently infected with three notorious vices; covetous- 
ness, cruelty, and leachery. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIRTEENTH. 



A brief relation of the trou- 
blesome reign of king Stephen, 
and his opposition against 
Mand the empress. — Of Hen- 
ry Short-mantle and hi§ pro- 



ceedings, with a continuance 
of our English history, in ere- 
ry circumstance making good 
Merlin's prophecy. 



STEPHEN, earl of Bulloigne, and son to the earl of 
JBloys, and Maud, sister to the wife of Henry, lately 
deceased, began his reign over the realm of England, in 
the year of grace 1136, who was valiant and hardy, but 
as some affirm, contrary to the oath made to king Henry 
concerning Maud the empress, he usurped the crown, and 
was inaugurated by the arch-bishop of Canterbury, at 
Westminster, upon the day of St. Stephen, in Christmas 
week, which arch-bishop (who had taken the same oath) 
died shortly afterwards, with divers other lords guilty of 
the same perjury ; which, as some write, was animated and 
encouraged by one Hugh Bigot, who was steward to king 
Henry, and presently, after his death, came over into 
England, and came before the said arch-bishop, other 
lords took an oath, and swore that he was present a little 
before his death, when he heard him disinheriting his 
daughter Maud, for some distaste that he had taken against 



1J2 THE LIFE OF MEHIN, 

her, and had adopted for his lawful heir, Stephen, his 
nephew; to which, the arch-bishop, with the rest, gave 
too hasty a battle: neither did this Hugh, for his wilful 
perjury, escape unpunished, who soon afterwards, with 
great trouble of conscience, most miserably expired. But 
before I proceed further in the story, I will deliver unto 
you Merlin's prophecy of those times, which followeth: 

<4 Drop must a Sagittary from the Skies, 

But against him an Eglet will arise, 

(That in the Marian Mountains built her nest) 

And against that Celestial signe contest. 

She fayling, will a Lions whelpe appeare, 

Whose rore shall make the Centaure quake with feare, 

But when the two shap't Monster shall be tam'd, 

By gentle means, the whelpe will be reclaim'd: 

And when the Iron brood in the Land shal fail, 

The bloud of the white Dragon must prevail." 



By the sagittary, which is one of the 12 celestial signs, 
and is the same which he calleth the two shaped centaure, 
is figured king Stephen, who gave not the lions, as his 
former predecessors had done, but emblazed the before- 
named sngitlary in his scutcheons, and therefore, he is 
by the prophet so stiled. By the Eglet, is also intended 
Maud the empress ; and by the Morian mountains, a 
place in Italy so called, figurateivly, including all Italy, 
by a part thereof. Now let us see, how this, with the 
rest, is made good by the event. 

In the beginning of his reign, king Stephen used great 
rigour against the clergy, as fining some bishops, and 
imprisoning others; besides, he seized on all the strong 
fons and castles within the realm, as still fearing the 
coming in of Maud the empress. In which time, Ro- 
bert earl cf Glocester, the base son of king Henry, took 
displeasure against the king 1 , for seizing the strong holds 
of Glocester, Hereford, Webly, Bristol, Dudley, and 
others, part of which belonged to his inheritance; and 
therefore, he sent letters to his sister Maud, promising to 
assist her in the claim of her inheritance. 

In the month of July, and sixth year of king Stephen, 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 113 

Maud (ho empress landed at Portsmouth, and made 
towards Bristol ; at which time, Stephen laid siege to the 
castle of Wallingford; who, hearing of her arrival, gathe- 
red all the forces he could make, and drew towards the 
enemy : in which time, Robert earl of Glocester, and Ra- 
nulph earl of Chester, were joined to the empress, and 
when both their hosts were in the field, ready to give the 
alarm, Ranulph, earl of Chester, thus spoke to his soldiers, 
and said : 

I require you, friends and countrymen, that I, who am 
the cause to bring you here to hazard your lives, in ly be 
the first man to put mine own in danger ; whom earl Ro- 
bert interrupted, and said, it is not unworthy to thee, who 
demandest the first stroke and hazard of this battle ; who, 
both for thy nobleness of blood, and thy known magnanimi- 
ty and courage, far surpassest other men, but the king's 
false oath hath levied men to this unjust war, in which we 
must either strive bravely to win the mastery, or else, be 
basely overcome; and now, we hare run into that hazard, 
that none of ns is safe, which shall not acquit himself by 
his knightly boldness, therefore, shew your valour, and be 
assured of victory. 

Then earl Baldwin, standing in the front of the kind's 
army, began to encourage his soldiers in this manner: 
To men that shall fight, three things are to be by them 
observed : First, the justice of the cause, lest they endan- 
ger their souls, which is clear on our part, who fight for 
our king and country. Second, the number of men, and 
the accommodation of arms, for few are not to oppose a 
multitude, nor naked men against armed, and w ; e parallel, 
if not exceed them, both in ammunution and number. Third, 
boldness and courage, not for defence only, but offence, 
which raethinks 1 spy in your faces ; and therefore, of 
all these three, our army is sufficiently furnished. Now, 
what be our enemies? A weak and distressed woman, 
assisted by two weak supporters ; Robert, earl of Gloces- 
ter, a man daring without deed, and accustomed to words, 
with words, not weapons; and Ranulph, earl of Chester, 
haughty, but withal fool-hardy, constant in nothing, and 
conscious only of conspiracies, who proposeth great en- 
terprizes, but never brings any to good effect* and for 

p 



114 TIfcB LIFE OF MERLIN, 

many legions conducted by such leaders ; the more they 
be iu company, the sooner they be overcome. 

Ai which word, he was cut off by the violent coming 
on of the enemy : and now began a cruel battle, resolutely 
and bravely fought on both sides, the violence whereof 
lasted long uncertain who should be victors; but, in the 
end, the king's host was utterly routed ; but he, being of 
a more heroic spirit, (as scorning to fly) maintained the 
fight with some few of his knights, and was taken prisoner; 
and being brought before the empress, she commanded 
him to be conveyed under safe custody to the castle of 
Bristol, where he remained from Candlemas to Holy road 
day next ensuing. After which victory, she was so ex- 
abed in thought, and puffed up with pri e, that she 
thought now she had the whole kingdom in her own 
possession, and came triumphantly to Winchester, after- 
wards to Wilton, Oxford, Heading, St Albans, and 
lastly to London; in all which plates, she was royally 
received; and during her abode there, the queen made 
assiduate labour for the delivery of the king, her husband, 
promising he would surrender the whole land into her 
possession, and either betake himself to some religious 
order, or to become a banished pilgrim to the end of his 
life: but all was in vain, she could receive no comfort 
from the empress upon any conditions. 

The citizens of London likewise petitioned unto her, 
that they might use the laws of Edward the Confessor, as 
they were confirmed by the Conqueror, and that she would 
be pleased to disannul the strict innovations imposed on 
the land by her father Henry ; to which, she nor her 
council would not in the least wise consent. But the tide 
soon turned, for Kent took part with the king, and the 
Londoners being discontented at the denial of their suit, 
and being assured that the Kentish men would in all their 
enterprizes assist them, they purposed to have surprised 
her person ; of which, she having secret intelligence, left 
a great part of her jewels and household stuff, and fled to 
Oxford; in which flight, many of her adherents were 
disheartened, and a great part of her forces dispersed and 
scattered. 

Then the queen before so mi#h despised, by the aid of 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 113 

her friends, the Kentish men, Londoners, and others, 
gathered a strong host, under the conduct of one William 
de Pre, to pursue the empress; who, understanding the 
queen's forces daily to increase, and her's assid'uately to 
diminish, she left Oxford, and secretly escaped to GIo- 
ces-er, whither the queen's host followed her. In defence 
of 'which city, Robert, brother to the empress, making an 
excursion from the town, was surprised and taken. Brief- 
ly, a communication was held between the two opposite 
parties, in which, after much debating, the business on 
both sides was conclude 1, that there should be one 
exchange made of the two prisoners, so that the kin«r, 
upon Holyroad day, in the harvest, was released, and 
delivered up to the queen and her army; and Robert of 
Gloccster ; was surrendered to his sister Maud the em- 
press. 

The land, in this time, was much distressed by these 
two armies r who were in continual agitation; sometimes 
the king having the better, and sometimes the empress; to 
relate which at large, would ask too long circumstance: 
but, in the end, the king had the better. In the 17th 
year of whose reign, died Ranulph earl of Chester, and 
Jeffrey Plantaginet, husband to Maud the empress; after 
whose death, their son Henry, surnamed Short-mantle, 
(because he used to go in a short cloak) was created duke 
of Anjou and Normandy ; who, some few years after, 
married Eleanor, daughter to the earl of Poyctow, who 
had before been married to Lewis the French king, but for 
the too nearness of blood divorced, after he had received 
two daughters from her, Mary and Alice: so that this 
Henry was the earl of Anjou by his father, duke of 
Normandy by his mother, and earl of Poyctow by his 
wife. 

This king, Stephen, had a son named Eustace, who, by 
aid of the French king, warred upon the forenamed Henry; 
in which the duke so knightly demeaned himself, that it 
proved to their great disadvantage. Some say that king 
Stephen would have crowned his son in his life time, but 
the clergy would not agree thereto, having a command 
from the bishop of Rome to the contrary, and therefore 
his purpose took no effect. Then the king laid siege to 

p 2 



11G THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

the castles of Newbury, Wallingford, Warbyck, and 
WarwelJ, which bad been kept by the friends of the 
empress to her use, in hope of the coming over of her son, 
duke of Normandy, &c. who, the same year, with a great 
host entered England, and first won the city of Malms- 
bury, and afterwards came to London, and possessed him- 
self both of the city and the tower, which more by his policy 
and promise, than by his potency and power performed. 

Then king Stephen with his host, drew near to duke 
Henry, but by the meditation of Theobald, arch-bishop 
of Canterbury, and others of the clergy and nobility, (who 
met at a place called the Water of Urme) they were kept 
from present hostility ; some endeavouring peace, others 
labouring war, as their humours and affections guided 
them. After which the king took his way towards 
IpswUh in Suffolk, and the duke towards Shrews- 
bury. In which interim, drowned Eustace the son 
of king Stephen, and was buried at Feversham in Kent, 
in the abbey which his father before had founded. 

After which, Theobald, with others, ceased not to bring 
these two princes to an atonement, which was so earnestly 
laboured, that a peace was concluded, upon the conditions 
following; namely, that the king (having now no heir) 
should continue in the sole sovereignty during his life, 
and immediately after the conclusion and establishing of that 
edict, Henry should be proclaimed heir apparent in all the 
chief cities and boroughs of England, and that the king 
should take him for his son by adoption, as immediate 
heir to the crown and kingdom, wherein that part of the 
prophecy is fulfilled, which saith : 

cc She failing, will a Lions whelpe appeare, 
Whose rore should make the Centaur e quake with fear; 
But wheu the two shap't Monster shall be tam'd 
By gentle means the whelpe shall be reclaimed. " 

By the Cent an re and the two shaped Monster, or the 
Sagittaiy, which are all one, meaning the king; and by 
the Lion's Whelp y Henry, duke of Normandy, &c. and 
afterwards king of England. In the end of this year 
tiled king Stephen, when he had reigned 18 years and 
odd months, and was buried by his son Eustace at Fever- 
sham, 



WITH HrS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 117 

This king spent his whole reign in great vexation and 
trouble, which (as some conjecture) happened because 
he usurped the crown contrary to his oath made to Henry 
the first, that he should maintain the rights of his daughter 
Maud the empress. This Stephen was the son of Eustace, 
earl of Bulloigne, and of Mary, sister to Maud, who was 
married to his predecessor Henry. These two are the 
daughters of Margaret, the wife of Malcolm, king of Scot- 
land, which Margaret was the sister of Edgar Etheling, 
and daughter of Edward the out-law, who was son to 
Edmund Ironside. 

Maud the empress, daughter to Henry Beauckrk, had 
by her second husband, Jeffrey Plantaginet, this Henry, 
the second of that name, by whom the blood of the Saxons 
again returned to the crown, partly by king Stephen, but 
more fully by him, so that, consequently, the blood of the 
Normans continued but 70 years, * accounting from the 
first year of William the Conqueror, to the last year of the 
reign of Henry the first, completing those words of the 
prophecy : 

tC And when the iron brood in the land shall failj 
The bloud of the red Dragon must preYail," 



CONTEXTS OF CHAPTER FOURTEENTH. 



Divers remarkable passages 
during the reign of Henry the 
second. — His numerous issue, 



towards him. — His vices and 
virtues, his good and bad for- 
tune; all which were by this 



and how they were affected \ our prophet predicted. 




ENRY the second, son of Jeffrey Plantaginet and 
__ Maud the empress, began his reign over England 
in the month of October, in the year of our Lord 1155; of 
whom before it was thus prophesied : 

is The Egletof the Flawde league shall behold, 
The Feathers of her prime bird thine in gold, 
And in her third nest shall rejoyce: but nee 
Who from the height of the great Rocke may see 
The Countries round (both neer and far away) 
Shall search amongst them, where he best can prey : 
Some of whose numerous ayrie shall retaine 
The nature of the Desert Pelican, 
The all commanding keys shall strive to wrest, 
And force the locke, that opens to his nest, 
But break their own wards: of all flowers that grow 
The Rose shall most delight his smell, and so 
That least it any strangers eyes should daze, 
Ilee'l plant it close in a Dedalian Maze, 
Fortune at first will on his glories smile, 
But fail him in the end; alack the while. 

The first words of this prophecy seem to reflect upon 
the empress his mother, by rejoicing her third nest, may 
be intended, that having three sons, Henry, Jeffrey, and 
William; the two latter failing, (as dying in their youth) 
she might rejoice in him, whose father being king, she 
saw to shine in gold; or else, being first espoused to Henry 



THE LIFE OP MERLIN, $CC. 119 

the emperor, and next to Jeffrey Plantaginct, she might in 
her death, rejoice in her third espousal with her Saviour. 
But again, where he stiles her the Eglet of the Flawde, or 
the Borbon League, it may be conferred upon the queen, 
who being first married to the king of France, and through 
nearness of blood, divorced from him, and sent to her 
father, and after married to this king, being then duke of 
Normandy, she may be said first to have built her nest in 
France, second in Normandy, aud the third and last in 
England. 

This prince (as the chronicle describes him to us) was 
somewhat high-coloured, but of a good aspect, and plea.- 
sant countenance, fat, full chested, and of low. stature. 
And because lie grew somewhat corpulent, he used a 
sparing and abstinent diet, and much exercised hunting. 
He was well spoken, and indifferently learned, noble in 
knighthood, and wise in council, bountiful to strangers, 
but to his familiars and servants gripple handed, and where 
he loved once or hated, constant, and hardly to be remo- 
ved. He had by his wife Eleanor, six sons and three 
daughters; the names of five of them were William, 
Henry, Richard, Godfery, and John, of whom two 
came to succeed him in the throne, Richard and John, 
of the sixth there is small or no mention. The eldest of 
his daughters was Maud, and was married to the duke of 
Saxony; the second, Eleanor, to the king of Spain; and 
the third, named Jane, to William king of Sicily. 

This king was prosperous in the beginning of his reign, 
but unfortunate in the end, as the sequel will make appa- 
rent. He was of such magnanimity and courage, that he 
was often heard to say, that to a valiant heart, not a whole 
world sufficeth, and according to his words, he greatly 
augmented his heritage, and much added to his dominions. 
For he won Ireland by strength, and in the seventh year 
of his reign, (for divers affronts offered him by William, 
king of Scotland) he made such cruel war upon him, that 
in the end he took him prisoner, and compelled him to 
surrender into his hands, the city of Carlisle, the castle of 
Bamburch, New-castle upon Tyne, with divers other 
holds, and a great part of Northumberland, which William 
before had won from the borderers. He likewise added 
the' whole kingdom to his own, and from the south ocean 



120 SHE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

to the north islands of the Orcades ; he closed all those 
lands as under one principal : which done, and receiving 
fealty and homage of the said king, having a certain sum 
of money promised to be paid into him within nine months 
following, he suffered him to go at liberty. 

He spread his empire so far, that none of all his prede- 
cessors had so many countries and provinces under their 
dominion and rule: for, besides the realm of England, he 
had at once in his possession, Normandy, Gascoine, and 
Guien, Anjou, and Chinou, with Alverne, and others ; 
and by his wife, as her rightful inheritance, the Pyrenean 
mountains, with part of France and Spain ; which 
proves 

that he 



Who from the height of the great rock may see 
The Countries round (both neer and far away) 
Shall seaich amongst them, where he best can prey. 

In the seventh year of his reign died Theobald, arch- 
bishop of Canterbury, and Thomas Becket, who was then 
chancellor of England, was translated unto that see. la 
the ninth year, the king called a parliament at Northamp- 
ton, where he intended to abolish some privileges which 
the clergy had usurped, amongst which, one was, that no 
priest or clergyman, though he had committed felony, 
murder, or treason against the king's own person, yet had 
he not power to put him to death, which he purposed 
to have reformed, w hich Thomas Becket, then arch-bishop, 
violently opposed him, and gave him very peremptory 
and unseemly language, vilifying the king's prerogative 
and authority to his face; but when he saw he had not 
power to prevail against the king, he in great heat and 
haste, sped it unto Alexander, then bishop of Rome, 
grievously complaining on the king, and suggesting what 
injuries and innovations he would put upon die holy 
church, continuing there, partly in Italy, and partly in 
France, for the space of six years together. 

After which time, Lewis king of France, reconciled the 
king and the arch-bishop, (the king being then in Nor- 
mandy) and Becket returned to his see at Canterbury, 
whither he summoned all such persons as in his absence 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROFHECIE*. 121 

had spoiled and rifled his moveables and goods, advising 
them, first, by fair weans to restore them; but, when he 
saw that course prevailed not, he took a more severe and 
compulsory way, excommunicating and denouncing all 
such accursed in his anathema, (not sparing the king's 
royal person) at which the parties here in England, who n 
it particularly concerned, s ailed over unto the king in 
Normandy, and made a grievous complaint against the 
said arch-bishop; at which, he being extraordinary in- 
censed, said in the open audience of those then about him, 
Had 1 any friend that tendered mine honour and safety, 
2 should ere this time be revenged of that traitorous arch- 
bishop. 

At which time were present, and heard those words, 
Sir William Breton, Sir Hugh Morvill, Sir David Fitz- 
vile, and Sir William Tracy, which four knights, having 
communed and considered among themselves, with an 
unanimous resolution, took shipping, and landed at Do- 
ver, and rode from thence to Canterbury, where, the fifth 
day in Christmas week, they slew the said bishop in the 
church as he was going to the altar, who had before, in 
the open pulpi*, denounced the king, and divers others of 
his subjects accursed ; which answers to the former pro- 
phecy : 

u The All-commanding keys shall strive to wresf, 
And force the iork that opens to his nest: 
But breake their own wards 3 &c." 

By the all 'commanding Ice us y is meant the power of the 
keys of Rome, who striving to force the lock opening to 
his nest i that is, his principality and prerogative, broke 
their own zcards^ which proved true in this Thomas 

was slain in the 
was inscribed : 



13ecket, primate and metropolitan, who w< r 
year 1170, over whose tomb 5 this distich w; 



Anno miVeno, centeno sep'uageno^ 
Anglorum primus corruit ease thronus. 

Which with small alteration may thus be paraphrased: 

Anno, one thousand one hundred sexenly dt/ y d, 
Thomas the Primate in his height of pride. 

Q 



■ 



122 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

Henry, in the fourteenth year of his reign, caused his 
eldest son Henry, to be crowned king of England, at 
"Westminster, giving him full power over the realm, 
•whilst he himself was negotiated in Normandy, and his 
many other provinces, which after proved to his great 
disadvantage and trouble. In which interim, he had 
cast his eye upon a most beautiful lady, called Rosamond, 
on whom he was so greatly enamoured, that it grew even 
to a dotage, so that he neglected the queen's compa- 
ny, insomuch, that she incensed all his sons, who took 
up arms against their lather in the quarrel of their mother, 
by which, the peace of the land was turned to hostility and 
uproar; yet, the king so far prevailed, that he surprised 
the queen, and kept her in close prison, and withal, was so 
indulgent over his new mistress, that he built for her a rare 
and wonderous fabrick, so curiously devised, and intricated 
with so many turning meanders and winding indents, that 
none, upon any occasion, might have access unto her, 
unless directed by the king, or such as in that businesss 
he most trusted. And this edifice he erected at Wood- 
stock, not far from Oxford, and made a labyrinth which 
was wrought like a knot in a garden, called a maze, in 
which any one might loose himself, unless guided by 
a line or thread, which, as it guided him in, so it directed 
him the way out. But, in process, it so happened, that 
the sons having the better of their father, set at liberty 
their mother, who, when the king was absent, came se- 
cretly to Woodstock with her train, at such a time, when 
the knight, her guardian, being out of the way, not dream- 
ing of any such accident, had left the clue carelessly and 
visible in the entrance of the labyrinth. 

Which the queen espying, slipped not that advantage, 
but wound herself by that silken thread even to the very 
place where she found her sitting, and presenting her with 
a bowl of poison, she compelled her to drink it off in her 
presence, after which draught, she within few minutes 
expired, and the queen departed from thence in her re- 
venge fully satisfied, for which cruel act, the king could 
never be drawn to reconcile himself unto her afterwards, 
and this makes good that of Merlin : 



-of all the flowers that grow, 

The Rose shall most delight his scent: and so 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 123 

That lest it any ttran £ers eyes hould daze, 
He plants it close in a Dedalian Maze. 

Rosamond being dead, was buried in the monastery of 
. Godstow, near unto Oxford, upon whose tomb was in- 
scribed : 

Hie jacent intumba, Rosamundinon Roscmund: 
Non redolent, sed olet, quoe redelere solet. 

Which, by an ancient writer was thus paraphrased into 
English : 

The Rose of the World, but not the clean flower 

Is graven here, to whom beauty was lent 

In this grave full darke, now is her bower 

That in her life was sweet and redolent: 

But now that she is from this life blent, 

Though she were sweet, now foul y doth she stink, 

A mirrour good for all that on her think. 

Such was their English poetry in those days. Long 
after the death of Rosamond, was shewed in that abbey, 
a rare coffer or casket of hers, about two feet in length, in 
which was a strange artificial motion, where were to be 
seen giants fighting, beasts in motion, fowls flying, and 
fishes swimming. This Henry was troubled by the queen's 
< animating of his sons against him ; betwixt whom were 
divers conflicts, which would appear tedious here to be 
rehearsed. It is written of this king, that in his chamber 
at Windsor, he had painted an eagle with four young 
ones, whereof, three of them pulled and picked the body 
of the old eagle, and the fourth picked at his eyes: and 
being asked what that picture should signify, he made 
answer, This old eagle figureth myself, and the four birds 
my four sons, whom cease not to pursue my life, but most 
of all, my son John, whom I most have loved, and there- 
fore 



M Some ©f his numerous ayrie will retain 
The nature of the Desert Pelican." 

The nature of the pelican in the desert being to pierce 

Q 2 



124 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

her brensf with ber bill, and feed her young ones with her 
cwn biood. In the 28th year of this Henry, died his 
eldest sou, Henry, whom he had before crowned, much 
rejentino; on his death-bed, for his unnatural rebellion 
against his father. 

Rainold, monk of Chester, relates, that soon after the 
death of lady Rosamond, Lewis the French king, and the 
eighth of that name, sent to king Henry one of hi? daugh- 
ters, to be kept for his second son Richard, whom the 
king vitiated, and laboured to Hagiintia, a cardinal then 
in the land, for a divorce betwixt him and his wife, in- 
tending to have married that French lady; but he failed 
of his purpose, (for he meant by that match to have dis- 
inherited his unnatural sons.) It is further recorded, that 
when William, king of the Scots, was taken by the king 
of England, he did him homage at the city of York, and 
in witness of subjection, he offered his hat and saddle upon 
St. Peter's altar, which were kept there many years after- 
wards. 

This king had many strange ^admonitions for the amend- 
ment of his life: one was, that in his return from Ireland, 
as he was taking his horse, there appeared unto him 
a man of a pale and meager aspect, bare-foot, and in a 
white mantle, who spoke unto him, and said, I am sent to 
thee from the Lord of theSabbaoth, whocommandeth thee to 
take order, that no markets be kept, nor any servile work 
be done on the Lord's day, (dressing of meat accepted 
only) which if thou seest performed, whatsoever thou 
purposest, thou shalt bring to a good and happy end. 
Which speech the king seemed to distaste, and said unto 
him that held his bridle, Ask of this churl, if he hath 
dreamed what he speaketh : to which the apparition 
answered again, Whether I have dreamed or not, take 
thou heed to my words, and amend thy life, or what 
thou now mockest, shall return to thy great misery; which 
having said, he vanished suddenly. The strangeness 
whereof, though he seriously apprehended, yet of the former 
there was nothing amended. 

He had a second admonition by an Irishman, who told 
him all things which he had done in secret, which he had 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES, 125 

thought none had known but himself, and withal, advised 
him to repentance and amendment of life; but he regard- 
ed it as the former. About which lime, being the 24th 
year of his reign, were taken up the bones of king Arthur, 
and his queen Guenever, in the valley of Avalon; the hair 
of her head seeming white, and of a fresh colour, but as 
soon as touched, they turned to powder. Their bones 
were afterwards translated to the church in Glastonbury, 
and there the second time buried. They were found by a 
bird or singer of rhyt limes, under the root of an oak, 
15 feet within the ground. His third admonition I leave 
to the next chapter. 






">fl LiMw ■■ r> 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER FIFTEENTH. 






The inauguration of Rich- 
ard the first, surnamed Corde- 
Jion. — A prediction of his 
reign. — His wars in the Holy 
Land. — His imprisonment by 



the duke of Austria. — Hil 
brother John's usurpation. — 
His second coronation, with 
his unfortunate death, &€. 



A KNIGHT called Sir William Chesterly, alias 
Lindsey, told him boldly, that there were seven 
things by him especially and suddenly to be reformed : 
First, to see better to the defence of the church, and provide 
for the maintenance thereof. Secondly, to see his laws 
better executed, and Justice jnore exercised. Thirdly, 
not to rob the rich, nor extort from them their goods by 
violence. Fourthly, to make restitution of all those lands 
and goods which he had so wrested. Fifthly, to make no 
demeanour or delay in just sentence, but suffer the right to 
have a lawfui ( process. Sixthly, to see his subjects satis- 
fied for such things as had been taken np to his use, and to 
pay his servants and soldiers which fell to robbery for that \ 
default. Seventhly, that he should speedily cause the 
Jews to quit the land. But this advise prevailed with 
him as the former. 

In his 13th year, Heraclius, patriarch of Jerusalem, 
came into England, to solicit his aid against the Saracens, 
( who had invaded the christian territories) and to defend 
the holy city, which by Saladine, king of Surry, was won 
soon after ; for by the relation of Peter Desroy, a French 
chronicler, Jerusalem was won by Godfrey of Bulloigne, 
in the year of grace 1099, and continued under nine 




THE LIFE OF M1RL1N, &C. 127 

christian kings, of which, Guy of Resingham was the 
last. This Heraclius farther proferred the king the keys 
of the Holy city* and of our Lord's grave, presenting him 
letters from pope Lucius, the third of that name, which 
charged him to take upon him the journey, according to 
an oath by him formerly made : to which the king an- 
swered, he could not leave his land in trouble as a prey to 
the French and his own aspiring son, but he would give 
largely out of his own coffers to such as would take that 
voyage in hand. 

To which the patriarch replied, we seek a man, not 
money; every christian prince sendeth us money, but 
none sendeth us a prince, therefore, we demand a prince 
that needeth money, and not money that needeth a 
prince; who, finding no other comfort from the king, 
departed his presence much discontented : but the king 
thinking to sooth him up with fair words, followed him to 
the sea side; but the more the king laboured to hamour 
him, the more hardened and harsh he grew against the 
king, and said unto him, Hitherto thou hjast reigned glo- 
riously, but hereafter, thou shalt be abandoned of him 
whom thou forsakest ; think what he hath given unto 
thee, and what thou, in gratitude, hast returned untojiim 
again ; who, at first, wast false tcj the French king, and 
v afterwards, slewest Thomas Becket, and now, lastly, for- 
sakest the protection of Christ's faith. At which words 
the king was much moved, and said to the patriarch, 
though all the people of the land were one body, and spoke 
with one mouth, they durst not say to me as thou hast 
done; true saith the patriarch, for they love thine and not 
thee; the safety of thy goods temporal, but not the 
safety of thy soul. Then he offered his head to the 
king, saying, now do me that right which thou didst 
to thine arch-bishop, for 1 had rather be slain by thee 
than by the Saracens. 

The king kept his patience, and replied, should 1 de- 
part out of the land, mine own sons would seize upon 
my crown and sceptre in mine absence. No wonder 
(answered the patriarch) for of the devil they come, and 
to the devil they shall go, and so he departed from the king 
in great anger. After which, all things went averse and 
against him. Giraldus Cambrensis writes of him, that he 



nf 



12S 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 



cherished strife among his own children, thinking thereby 
to live, himself, in the more rest: and farther saith, that 
he was peerless for three things, wit, war, and wanton- 
ness. He reigned 26 years victoriously and gloriously, 
four years distractedly and doubtfully, and his last five 
years unfortunately and miserably, and in the end, bv 
mere vexation and anger, he fell into a fever, and died 
thereof in the castle of Chinon in Normandy, in the month 
of July, when he had reigned 54 years, eight months, aad 
odd days, and was buried at Fountblew, fulfilling- that of 
the former prediction : 

* c Fortunate at first, shall on his glories smile, 
But fail him in the end, &c. 

Richard, the first of that name, and second son of Hen- 
ry, surnamed Short-mantle, succeeded his father, and 
began his reign over England in the month of July, 1189, 
who, upon the day of his coronation, commanded that all 
the prisoners, in or about London, which lay in for the 
king's debt or otherwise (murder and treason excepted) 
should be set at large, of whose future reign it was thus 
predicted : 

i: The Lions heart weel gainst the sarazen rise, 
And purchase from him many a glorious prise. 
The Rose and Lilly shali at first unite, 
But parting of the prey prove opposite. 
Jebus and Salem will be much opprest, 
As by the lame and blind again posscst. 
The Lion-hearted amongs Wolves shall range, 
And by his art, Iron into silver change. 
But whilst abroad, these great acts shall be done, 
All things at home shall to disorder run, 
Coopt up and cag'd, then shall the Lion bee, 
But after sufferance ransom'd and set free. 
Then doubly crowned: two mighty ones whose prides 
Transcend; twixt whom a seas arme only glides, 
(Ambitious both shall many conflicts try; 
Last, by a poysonous shaft the Lion dye." 

This king, soon after his coronation, conferred upon his 
brother three great dignities and honours, as the earldom 
of Nottingham, Cornwall, Chester, and Lancaster, and 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 129 

married him to the daughter of the earl of Glocesfer, who 
was his only child, by which he was heir to that earldom 
also; all which he afterwards, but cruelly, requittcd: 
then the king sought to be absolved for his rebellion against 
his father, which he easily purchased, upon promise to 
pursue the wars in Palestina, which his father had refused, 
and to expedite that voyage, he gave over the two castles 
of Barwick and Roehburgh to the Scotch king, for 10,000 
pounds, towards the charges of his journey: moreover, 
he sold to the old bishop of Durham, that 'province, for a 
great sum of money, and (as he had covenanted) made 
him earl thereof. Which done, the king laughed, and 
said to the standers by, observe what art and cunning is in 
me, who can make a young earl of an old bishop. By 
such means he emptied many of the clergy's bags, and 
filled his own coffers; granting large fees and annuities out 
of the crown ; for which, some (as far as they durst) bla- 
ming him, he replied unto them, that it was good for a 
man to aid himself with his own; adding, that if the city 
of London was his, at that time of his need, he would sell 
that also, if he could meet with a merchant able to buy it. 

In the second year of his reign, he made William 
Longshamp, bishop of Ely, chancellor of England, leav- 
ing the whole land to his guiding, then sailed he into 
Normandy, and thence into France, to Philip the second, 
and after covenants drawn between them, for the continuance 
of so great and hazardous a j ourney , in the spring of the year 
they set forward, Richard by sea, and Philip by land, 
appointing their rendezvous in Sicily : where meeting, (as 
it was agreed) a difference grew between the two kings, 
insomuch that king Philip left Richard in Sicily, and 
departed towards Aeon or Acris. In which time, the 
king of Cyprus took two of king Richard's ships, and 
peremptorily denied their delivery. 

For which he invaded the kingdom of Cyprus, making 
sharp war therein, chacing the king from city to city, 
insomuch that he was compelled to yield, upon condition 
that he should not be laid in bonds of iron ; whereof the 
king accepted, and kept his promise, causing him to be 
fettered in chains of silver, verifying that part of the pro- 
phecy : 

R 



ISO THE LIFE OF ME-RLIN, 

" The jLwz-hearted amongst Wolves shall range, 
_ And by his art iron into silver change." 

When he had remained there for the space of two 

months, taking his pleasure of the country, and victualled 

his navy; he steered his course towards Aeon, and by the 

way he encountered a great ship of the Soldans, furnished 

with store of amrnunution and treasure, which he surprised 

and seized, after which, he safely arived at the foresaid 

city, and met with the king of France, of whom he was 

joyfully received; for not long before, 2,000 of his army 

were cut off by the Saracens : then king Richard caused 

the city to be violently assaulted on every side, so that 

they were forced to yield it up upon these covenants 

following: To deprat the place, leaving behind them 

horse, armour, victuals, and all things belonging to war; 

and further, to restore and set at liberty all such Christian 

prisoners, as were then under their yoke and bondage, with 

divers other conditions, hut these the chiefest : and this was 

done in the month of August, and in the year of our Lord 

119f. 

But in dividing the spoil of the city, which was great 
and rich, there fell out also a division between the two kings, 
which kindled a fire that never was quenched ; the motives 
inducing thereto were (as Polychronicon reports) because 
Richard denied to Philip half of the spoil and booty taken 
in Cyprus, alledging that their covenants stretched to no 
further than to those purchased in the Holy Land ; ano- 
ther was, that king Richard being in Sicily, married 
the daughter of the king ofJNavar, where before he had 
promised to espouse the sister of the king; for which, and 
other causes, the French king, with a small number of 
ships, departed from Aeon, thence to Puis, afterwards to 
Rome, and so into his own country, leaving the duke of 
Burgundy general of the French in his stead, which 
fulfils that part of the prophecy : 

*' The Rose and Lily shall at first unite, 
But parting of the prey prove opposite." 

During king Richard's stay there, he sold the kingdom 
of Cyprus to the knight tempters for 30,000 marks, and 




WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 151 

(as the French chronicle reports) forced it from them 
again by strength, and gave it to Guy of Resingham, the 
last king of Jerusalem; and further, for an affront offered 
him, he took the duke of Austria's banner, and stamped it 
under his foot, for which, the duke sought all advantages 
to be revenged on him, (as shall be related hereafter) he 
then, because the Turks had not delivered to him the Holy 
Cross, according to their agreement at the taking of Aeon, 
slew all that were in the city with their pledges and hos- 
tages, the whole number, as some write, amounting to 
5,000 persons ; then he provided for the present siege of 
Jerusalem, which as he was given to understand, was at 
that time much distressed. For it followeth : 

" Jebus, and Salem shall be much oppresfc, 
As by the lame and biirtde again possest." 

OfJebus and-Salem, the Holy City, had the denomina- 
tion of Jerusalem ; and by the lame and biind^ is intended 
the idols of the infidels, who have feet and walk not, eyes 
and see not, &c. King Richard, marching within five 
miles of the place, purposed to environ it around, that no 
supply or succour might be brought into it, daily expect- 
ing the duke of Burgundy with the French to follow him : 
who, perfidiously against his oath and promise, made 
an oration to his soldiers as followeth : It is known unto 
you all, noble friends and countrymen, that though our 
sovereign lord the king be absent, yet all the flower and 
chivalry of France are here present, and whatsoever is done 
to the dignity of the Christians, and disgrace of the infi- 
dels, is most likely by us to be achieved, the English 
being cowards and meacocks, and we courageously and 
manly ; yet, whatsoever noble act shall be attempted by 
us, the honour thereof shall be attributed to them, their 
king being resident here, and ours so far remote from 
hence : my counsel is, therefore, that we march back to 
Aeon, and leave them to the hazard that aim at the ho- 
nour: which speech so prevailed with his people, that 
Richard was prevented in his former purpose, and the 
duke of Burgundy died soon afterwards. 

Yet this lion-hearted leader was no way daunted with 
the French delirements : but raising his siege, he pursued 

r 2 



132 THE LIFE OF MERLN, &C. 

the Soldans, who then begird the town and castle of Ja- 
phath, and won it, taking there many Christian prisoners, 
and then manned it with his own men, sending them whom 
he surprised to be elswhere imprisoned, whom king Rich- 
ard coming too late to the siege, most fortunately met and 
rescued. \V Inch done, he set upon the town and castle, and 
took them, setting there a strong garrison of Christians. Af- 
ter which victory, he won Dacon and Garles,two great cities, 
and repaired the castle of Askelon, with many others, which 
the pagans had much defaced and ruined. After which, 
he commanded all his prisoners to be slain, which others 
sold to their profit and advantage, by which he grew to 
be the greater terror of the Turks. But victuals daily 
diminishing, and sickness increasing in his army, and the 
French failing him, having set things there in the best 
order that necessity would permit him, he took ship- 
ping at Aeon, (called also Tholomida) and from thence 
he sailed iwto Cyprus : then he sent his wife and her sister, 
with the greatest part of his people into Sicily, and because 
he could not well brook the sea, he thought to make a 
short cut into Histria, but by force of weather was driven, 
ashore between Venice and Acquilea, where landing, with 
that small train which followed him, he was espied by 
some of the duke of Austria's knights, (whose standard he 
had trod under foot) who after laid wait for him, and took 
him, the manner whereof I leave to the ensuing chapter. 



«*"■"" ' ■ ■■—■■' "* 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER SIXTEENTH. 



The rest of the prophecy 
made good in the subsequence. 
— The troublesome reign of 
king; John. — His loss of Nor- 
mandy. — His land interdicted | 



by the pope, to whom he is 
compelled to resign his crown, 
and afterwards to hold it as 
from him.— «His death. 



N the absence of the king, whilst he was busy in his 
wars abroad, the bishop of Ely, chancellor, and pro- 
rex at home, opposed the lords, abused the commons, and 
oppressed the clergy : he rode not abroad attended with 
less than 1000 horses ; to maintain which pomp and 
Lucifer ian pride, he extorted from the poor, from the 
peers, but especially from the prelates; holding in his 
hands at once, besides Ely, the two arch-bisbopricks of 
Canterbury aud York, imprisoning whom he pleased, and 
releasing where he liked ; nor was the king more earnest in 
vexing the pagans and infidels in the 1 mds of Palestine, than 
he was eager and extreme against his Christian brethren, 
whose patronage and protection were committed to his 
charge, so that it verifies, 

tc Whilst that abroad such great acts shal be done, 
All things at home will to disorder run. " 

In which interim, the king being on all sides ambushed 
by the Austrians, for between Venice and Aquilea, in a 
province belonging to the duke, he was beset by one 
Mainart de Goiesen, but with the loss of some of his 
train, he by his manhood escaped. Afterwards., at a town 
named Frisach, one Frederick de Saint Soon, made a 



134 the life of merlix, 

second attempt upon him, and toook six of his knights, 
but he by his noble valour made his way through the 
ambush of the enemy without surprisal, and struck up 
towards Germany ; but spies being sent, to know what 
course he took, he was at length betrayed into the hands 
of the duke of Lemple, cousin to the emperor, who sent 
him to the duke of Austria. He presently rifled him of 
all the treasure and jewels he had about him, and com- 
mitted him for a month to straight and close prison. 

During which time (as some write) the duke put him to 
cope singly with sL great and mighty lion, weaponless and 
unarmed ; who having conquered the beast, ripped his 
heart, and flung it in the duke's face, and afterwards, 
with a blow under the ear, he slew the duke's son, 
and further, that his daughter being enamoured both of his 
person and great valour, he left her vitiated and deflower- 
ed. But howsoever, in this all witnesses agree, that when 
the month was expired, he sent him to the emperor, who 
was Henry, the first of that name, and son to Frederick 
the first, who put him into a dark and obscure dungeon, 
covenanting with the duke, that he should have the third 
part of his ransom. There he remained for the space ofu 
year and three months, at length, upon a palm Sunday, he 
caused him to be brought before his princes and lords, to 
answer what could be objected against him, where he 
appeared with such a manly and majestic aspect, and with- 
al, answered so directly and discreetly to whatsoever was 
laid to his charge, that they generally commiserated his 
injust durance. Then his ransom was set at 100,000 
pounds sterling, and hostages given for the payment by 
such a time: which done, he was set at liberty. Which 
verifies : 

* c Coopt up, aad cag'd then shall the Lion be, 
But after sufferance ransom'd and set free," 

The king in the eighth year of his reign, about the 
latter end of March, "landed at Sandwich, and came 
straight to London, where he was joyfully received, and 
then, calling a council of his lords, he first took order to 
pay his ransom; and because his brother John, in his 
absence, had usurped the diadem, and was at that time in 
France, he deprived him of all honour and title, and took 



WITH HIS STHAXGE PROPHECIES. 135 

from him those earldoms and revenues that he had conferred 
upon him, and caused himselfat Winchester to be the second 
time crowned, and then began the an ient grudge to revive 
between the two kings of England and France, which was 
the more aggravated, because the French king supported 
John, against the king his brother: but prince John seing 
how much his fame was magnified in the mouths of all 
men, and that all the parts, both of Christendom and Pa- 
ganism, resounded with his praise, he made means to his 
mother, queen Eleanor, by whose mediation, peace was 
made between her two sons, whilst the wars in Normandy 
and France went still forward. 

Many wearied the battles fought betwixt the two kings, 
and much effusion of blood on both sides, where some- 
times the one, and sometimes the other had the better, but 
for the most part Richard the best, during which com- 
bustion, before the last 20,000 pounds for his ransom was 
paid, his two hostages, the bishops of Bath in England, 
and Roan in Normandy, came unto him, and told him 
that they were set at liberty by the emperor, and further 
shewed, that his great enemy, the duke of Austria, was 
accused of Innocent the third, then pope, for the injuries 
before offered him, and that upon St. Stephen's day, he 
pricked his foot with a thorn, which gangrened, and. 
should have been cut off, and being told he must die, he 
sent to his bishops to be absolved, which they had denied 
to do, till he had shown himself repentant, for the foresaid 
wrongs, and released his hostages, which being according- 
ly done, the duke died, and they were delivered. 

In the process of the wars before spoken of, king Rich- 
ard, in the 10th year of his reign, after Christmas, besieged 
a castle in France near Lymoges, called Gaylyard, the 
cause was, that a rich treasure being found within the 
seigniory of the king of England, by one Widomer, vis- 
count of Lemurke, he had denied to render it up, and fled 
thither for his refuge, and defended it manfully till the 
fifth day of April, upon which day, the king walking un- 
advisedly, to take view of the fort, and where it might be 
best entered, one named Bertrand Genedow (whom some 
writers call Pater Basale) marked the king and wounded 
him in the head (some say in the arm) with a poisoned 
arrow ; after which hurt received, he caused a violent and 



136 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 



desperate assault to be made, in which he won the castle, 
then he made inquiry, who he was that wounded him, 
who being found, and brought before hirn, the king de- 
manded of him, why he should rather aim at his person 
than any of those who were then about him; who boldly 
made answer, because thou hast slain my father and my 
brethren, for which 1 have vowed thy death, whatsoever 
became of me : the king after some pausing leisure, for 
that answer gave him his pardon and liberty, but the 
rest of his soldiers he put to the sword, and caused the 
castle to be razed to the earth, and died the third day 
after, whose body was buried at Fountblew, at the feet 
of his father, which no way errs from the prophecy : 



(( 



■For potent Kings, whose prides 



Transcend: 'twixt whom, a sea-arm only glides, 
(Ambitious truth) shall many conflicts, try 
Last, by a poysonous shaft the King shall die." 

John, the youngest son of Henry the second, and bro- 
ther to the late deceased Richard, was proclaimed king 
the 10th day of April, in the year of grace 1199, and was 
crowned at Westminster, upon Holy Thursday next en- 
suing, of whom it was thus predicted: 

€s The subtle Fox into the Throne shall creep, 
Thinking the Lion dead who did but sleepe, 
But frighted with his waking rore, finds cau§e 
To file the terrour of his teeth and paws, 
After this Leopard, stain'd with many a spot, 
Shall loose all Rollo by his Gilla got, 
Then shall those keyes whose power awe the fates 
For a long time, lock up his Temple gates, 
Unburthen him of all the charge he beares, 
And wrest from him the Lawreli that he wears. 
Woes me, that from one Leopard should be tome 
What many Lions in their pride have worne. 
Hither the French Flower would it self transpose 
Where must spring after, many a glorious rose. 
He that did (all he might) the Kirk despise, 
Against his life shall a base Kirk-man rise." 

The former part of this prediction is apparent in the 
premises, where John sought, like a fo* ; subtly and 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 137 

craftily to insinuate into the people's hearts, and rob him 
of his kingdom, thinking his brother all that time as dead, 
when he was utterly despairing of his liberty, but finding 
him awake, as being enfranchised and set at large, he 
then was frighted by the least frown of his brows, being 
glad to mediate his peace by his mother; the rest shall 
follow in order. He was of a disposition coarse and 
retrograde, self-willed and proud, in all, or most, of his 
undertakings very unfortunate. In the first year of his 
reign, he divorced himself from his first wife, daugh- 
ter of the earl of Glocester, pretending too near propin- 
quity in blood, and soon afterwards, married Isabel, 
daughter to the earl of Angolesme in France, by whom he 
had issue, two sons, Henry and Richard, and three daugh- 
ters, Isabel, Eleanor, and Jane. He was, before his 
coronation, girt with the sword of the dukedom of Bri- 
tany, and suffered it to be taken from him by his young 
nephew Arthur, son to Jeffrey Plantaginet, to his great 
derogation and dishonour, he afterwards left all Norman- 
dy, which the French king won from him, even to one 
town arid village, approving that of the prophet: 

u After this Leopard, stain'd with many a spot, 
Shall lose all Rollo, by his Gilla got." 

The prophet, for his stained and contaminated life and go- 
vernment, would not vouchsafe him the name of a Lion, but 
a Leopard^ alluding as well to his spotted fame as his skin, 
by whose cowardly and unkingly proceedings, Philip the 
French king, seized all Normandy, and took it into his 
absolute possession, annexing it into his crown, which no 
French monarch ever had, since the time of Charles the 
Simple, who gave that dutchy to Rollo, as a dowry, with 
Guilla his daughter, which had successively continued 
under the sovereignty of the dukes of Normandy and the 
kings of England, 300 years and upwards. 

In the first year of his reign, Stephen Langtoa being 
chosen archbishop of Canterbury by the monks, the 
election was opposed by the king, for which, he complain- 
ed on him to the pope, who sent unto him loving and kind 
letters, to admit of the said Stephen, to which his lords advi- 
sed hiraj but the more he was importuned, the more impla- 



138 THE MFE OF MERLIN, 

cable he grew, returning the pope's messengers back with pe- 
remptory denial. The next year came a strict commandment 
from Rome, that unless the king would peaceably suffer the 
said archbishop to enjoy his see, that the whole land should 
be interdicted, charging these four bishops, William of Lon- 
don, Eustace of Ely, Walter of Winchester, and Giles of 
Hereford, to denounce the king, and his land accursed, 
unless his command was punctually obeyed. But though 
these prelates, with the rest of his peers, were urgent with 
him to eschew the rigorous censure of the church, all was 
to no purpose, for which, upon the 26th day of March, 
they began in London, and first shut up the doors of all 
temples, churches, and chapels, with all other places 
where divine service was used; and as in London, so 
they did through the whole land; for which the king was 
so inraged, ihat he seized all their temporalities into his 
hands, putting them into such fear, that they were forced 
to fly to the banished archbishop: some write, that this 
interdiction was of such power and validity, that during 
the time thereof, which was six years, three months, and 
odd days, no service was said, no sacraments administer- 
ed, no child christened, none married, and not any suffer- 
ed to come to confess. 

In this interim, the king from anger grew to rage, 
proclaiming that all persons, spiritual or temporal, that 
held any lands or other livelihood here, should by the next 
Michaelmas return into the land, or failing therein, for- 
feit their whole estates: besides, that diligent search 
should be made, what letters should be brought from 
Rome, which should be delivered to the king : then, he 
extorted from all the monasteries, not sparing any reli- 
gious house that had dependance on the clergy : for 
which, a new commission was sent from Rome, by virtue 
whereof, the curse of interdiction was again denounced, 
to which, by the authority of the pope, was added, that 
this his JBull acquitted, and absolved all the lords of 
England, as well spiritual as temporal, from all duty and 
allegiance before sworn to the king, and that they might 
lawiujiy ribe in arms against him, to depose and deprive 
him ot all regal honour and dignity: but all these took 
no more impression on him, than if they had been cla- 
r. oured in the ears of a deaf man, or proclaimed to a sta- 
tue of marble* 



WITH HM STRANGE PROPHECIES. 139 

But, by the way, (which I cannot let pass) this king, 
John, in the 10th year of his rrign, and of giace 1210, 
granted to the city of London, by his letters patent, that 
instead of two bailiffs, by which their magistracy was 
held, they should yearlj r choose themselves a mayor and 
two sheriffs, which mayor was Henry Fitzallvvin, and 
Peter Duke and Thomas Neale, Sheriffs. The same 
year, London bridge, which before was of timber, was 
begun to be built of stone, and St. Mary Overy's church 
to be erected in South wark. 



mtrnm 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH. 



A continuance of some pas- 
sages in king John's reign — 
Heniy the third succeedcth his 
father.— A prediction of his 



reign. — His brother Richard 
made king of the Romans. — 
Henry's long reign. — The mad 
parliament. — The barons' war. 



I PROCEED where I left. In the same year, th* 
pope sent oyer his legate, Pandolphus, with another 
A'Latere to accompany him to solicit the same business, 
who were sent back with a like frivolous answer : yet, he 
sent again, the year following, the same Pandolphus, 
threatening wonders if he did not receive Stephen Lang- 
ton into his archbishoprick, and make restitution of all 
such moneys and other moveables, of which he had 
robbed the monasteries, &c. Then, at last, the king 
considering into what dangers he had intricated himself 
by his peremptory denials; how he had lost Normandy 
abroad, and then, in what desperate state his kingdom 
stood at home ; that his lords were acquitted of their 
allegiance, and in what danger his soul, and his people's 
were, he and his whole nation standing accursed, he, at 
length, condescended to submit himself to whatsoever the 
court of Rome should determine. The articles proposed 
by the pope, and by him to be performed, were these 
following : 

Peaceably to suffer Stephen Langton to enter into the land, 
and to enjoy the primacy and profits of his archbishoprick, 
and that those whom he had banished should be repealed, 
and their goods whom he had rifled should be to them 



THE LIFE OP MERLIN, &C. 141 

restored. And that he should yield up his absolute right 
and title to the crown of England, and he and his heirs 
thenceforward, to hold it of the pope and his successors. 
To which having granted, he and his lords being sworn 
to observe the same; he kneeling, took the legate to 
to him, and took the crown from his head, and delivered 
it to the pope's use, saying these words, I here resign up 
the crown of the realms of England and Ireland, into the 
hands of pope Innocent the third, and put myself wholly 
into his power and mercy. Then Pandolphus, as deputy for 
the pope, took the crown, and kept it five days in his 
possession, and then the king received it from him again. 
First, having sealed and delivered up an instrument or 
-writing; the effect was, that he could challenge no pow- 
er but by permission of the pope ; and further, to pay 
to the apostolic see yearly 1,000 marks of silver, 700 
for the crown of England, and 300 for the kingdom of 
Ireland ; for the payment of which tribute, the Peter- 
pence were afterwards gathered, and this confirms the pre- 
mises expressed in the prophecy : 

" Then shall those keyes whose power would awe the fates^ 
For a long time lock up his Temple gates, 
Unburthen him of all the charge he beares, 
And wrest from him the Lawreil that he wears. 
Woes me, that from one Leopard should be torne 
What many Lions in their pride have worne." 

It is made so plain, that it needs no further interpreter, 
In those days, lived one called Peter of Pomfret, a bard 
(and such then were held as soothsayers and prophets, 
who predicted divers of the king's disaters, whichfell out 
accordingly. Amongst which, one was, that he should 
reign but 14 years. But, when the king had entered the 
15, he called him into question for a false prophecy, to which 
he answered, that whatsoever he had foretold was justifiable 
and true ; for, in the fourteenth year, he gave up his crowa 
to the pope, and he paying him an annual tribute, the 
pope reigned and not he. Notwithstanding which apolo- 
gy, he caused him, as a traitor, to be hanged and quar- 
tered. 

After which he bore himself so aversly towards his ba- 
rons, that the greatest part of them fell from his allegiance, 



142 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

and called in Lewis (son to the French king) into the land, 
covenanting to make hitn king, who was received with h.s 
whole army, and possessed of London, the tower, and many 
other strong holds in the kingdom ; between whom and the 
king were fought sundry conflicts and skirmishes, in 
which they sped diversly. During which dissention, in 
the I7(h year of his reign, he expired (as the author of 
Polychronicon saith) at Newark, of a bloody flux. But, 
by the relation of our English chronicle, to which we give 
more credit, as also, by the authority of Mr. Fox, in his 
Martyrology, he was poisoned by a monk, (having been a 
great riiler of their monasteries) and died at Swinsted abbey, 
in Lincolnshire, (this monk being of the same house) and 
his body was afterwards buried in the cathedral church at 
Winchester; which fatal accident happened unto him the 
day after St. Luke, being the 18th of October, after he 
had reigned 16 years, six months, and odd d;)ys, leaving 
behind him two sons, Henry and Richard. In his death 
verifying : 

es He that did (all he might) the Kirke despise, 
Against his life, shall a base kirkinan rise." 

Not forgetting the former, which was predicted of Lewis 
coming into the land : 

u Hither the French flower would it self transpose 
Where must spriug after man y a glorious Rose." 

Henry, the third of that name, and eldest son to king 
John, at the age of nine years, began his reign over the 
realm of England, the 30th day of October, in the year of 
grace 1216; Philip the second being then king of France. 
This king reigned the longest, and did the least (of remar- 
kable memory) of any of his predecessors, of whom it waa 
thus predicted: 

" Dreame shall the Leopards issue in the throne, 
(Crudled in rest) carefull to keep his owne : 
Nor forcing ought from others: changing then 
His Leopards spots, a Lion turn ageH, 
Abroad the second whelpe for prey will rore 
Beyond the Alps, & to Joves bird restore:. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 143 

Her decayde plumes: the King of beasts whose rage 
His youth conceal'd, shall rowse him in his age, 
Against the /3oare, the Talbot, and the Beare, 
The Mountain Cat, & Goat: with whom cohere 
Of fowls, the Falcon, Hearn, the Peacock, Swan, 
With Fishes too, prest from the Ocean, 
With whose mixt blouds the Forest shal be dyde, 
, Till Ioyc unite, what discord did divide." 

Presently upon the young king's coronation, the great- 
est part of the English peers revolted from the French 
party, and acknowledged him their sole king and sove- 
reign, so that within a short season, they quitted both him 
and all the aliens and strangers out of the land. In the 
eighth year of his reign, was held a parliament, in which 
was granted to the king, and his successor kings, the 
wardship and marriage of all the heirs; which act was 
called by the wise men of that age, Initium malorum. 

In the 13th year of his reign, died Frederick the empe- 
ror, who had before married Isabel, the king's sister; who, 
for his contempt of the church of Rome was accursed, of 
whom was made this epitaph : 

Fre : f remit in Mundo, Ue : deprimitalia prof undo. 
Hi: res rimaiur, cus: cuspide cuncta minatur. 

Which, though it cannot sound so well in our English 
tongue, yet is thus paraphrased : 

Free: frets the world: De: Height, which depth 

confounds. 
Ri : searcheth all things, Cus with the weapon wounds. 

After whose death, the electors could not agree in the 
choice of a successor; some nominated the duke of Tho- 
ring, others the earl of Holland, and some again stood for 
Richard, earl of Cornwall, the king's brother ; but, in the 
end, Rodulphus, duke of Kabspurg, was inaugurated by- 
pope Gregory the ninth, so that great variance and strife 
continued for the space of 27 years, to the great impo- 
verishment of Italy and the lands of the empire In the 
40th year of the king, landed in England, upon Innocent's 



144 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

day, in Christmas week, divers princes of the empire, and 
did their homage to Richard, earl of Cornwall, as the king 
f the Romans, and emperor, who, upan ascension day, 
afterwards was crowned in Aquisgrane, verifying : 

6i Abroad the second whelp, for prey will rore 
Beyond the Alps and to Joves bird restore 
Her decai'd plumes. " 

In the 41st year, about St. Barrabas's day, in the month 
of June, the king called his high court of parliament at 
Oxford, which was called the mad parliament, because 
in it divers acts were concluded against the king's plea- 
sure, for the reformation of the state. For which, after- 
wards, great dissention grew betwixt the king and his 
nobles, called the barons' wars, which proved the perish- 
ing of many of the peers, and almost the ruin of the whole 
realm : for, in that session, were chosen 12 peers, whom 
they called the Douz Peers, who had full commission to 
correct and reform whatsoever was done amiss in the king's 
court, the Exchequer, and courts of justice throughout 
the land ; to whose power, the king, and prince Edward, 
his son, signed and assented unto, though somewhat against 
their wills. Of all which passages, such as would be 
fully satisfied, I refer them to our English chronicles, or 
to Michael Drayton's poem of the Barons' Wars, wherein 
they are amply discoursed, and my narrow limits will not 
give me leave to relate them at large, yet 1 borrow per- 
mission to insist a little further on one particular. 

All things being in combustion between the king and his 
peers, and their armies assembled on both sides, the barons 
framed a letter to the king to this purpose: c f To the most 
excellent lord king Henry, by the grace of God king of Eng- 
land, lord of Ireland, duke of Guian, &c. The barons and 
others your faithful servants, their fidelity and oath to God 
and to you, coveting to keep, sending due saluting, with all 
reverence and honour tinder due obeysance, &c. Liketh 
it your highness to understand, that many being about 
you, have before this time shewed to your lordship of us 
many evil and untrue reports, and have found suggestions, 
not only tor us, but also ot yourself, to bring your realm to 
subversion. Know your excellency, that we intend no- 






WITH HIS 8TRANGE PROPHECIES. 145 

thing but health and security to your person, to the utter- 
most of our powers. And not only to our enemies, but 
also yours, and all this your realm, Ave intend utter griev- 
ance and correction, beseeching your grace hereafter to 
give to them little credence, for you shall find us your 
true and faithful subjects to the uttermost of our powers. 
And we, Simon Mounttort, earl of Leicester, and high 
steward of England, and Gilbert Clare, earl of Glocester, 
at the request of others, and for ourselves, have put to our 
teals, the 10th of May." 

To which letter the king framed this answer: cc Henry, 
by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, and 
duke of Gnian, to Simon de Mountfort, and Gilbert de 
Clare, and th ir accomplices. Whereas by war and general 
disturbance in this our realm, by you begun and continued ; 
with burnings and other enormities, it evidently appears, 
that your fidelity to us due, you have not kept, nor the 
security of our person little regarded. For so much as 
our lords, and others, our trusty friends, which daily 
abide with us, ye vex and grieve, and them pursue to the 
utmost of your powers, and yet daily intend, as you, by 
the report of your letters have us ascertained, we, the grief 
of them admit, and take for our own, especially when they 
for their fidelity, which they to us daily impend, stand and 
abide by us, to suppress your infidelity and untroth. 
Wherefore, of your favour and. assurance we set little store, 
but you, as our enemies, we utterly defy. Witness our 
self at our town of Lewes, the 12th of May.",; 

Moreover, Richard his brother, king of the Romans, 
(who was come over into England with his wife and 
son) with prince Edward, and other lords about the king, 
sent them another letter, the tenour whereof was this: 
44 Richard, by the grace of God, king of the Romans, 
semper Augustus, and Edward, the noble first begotten son 
of the king of England, and ail other barons firmly stand- 
ing and abiding with our sovereign lord the king, to Simon 
de Mounliort, and Gilbert de Clare, and ail other their 
false fellows, &c. By the letters which you sent to our 
soven -i^-n lord, we understand that we are defied of you, 
nevertheless, this word of defiance appeared to us suffici- 
ently before, by the d< privation and burning of our ma- 

IS UMBER IV. T 



145 



THE LIFE OP MERLIN, &C* 



nors, and carrying away of our goods, wherefore we will 
that ye understand, that we defy you, as our mortal and 
public enemies, and whensoever we may come to the 
revengement of the injuries that you to us have done, we 
shall requit it to the utmost of our power; and where ye 
put upon us, that neither true nor good counsel to our 
sovereign lord we give, you therein say falsely and untruly, 
and if that saying, ye Sir Simon de Mountfort, and Sir 
Gilbert de Clare, will testify in the court of our sovereign 
lord, we are ready to purchase to your surety and safe 
coming, that there we may prove our true and faithful 
innocency, and your false and traiterous lying. Witness- 
ed with the seals of Richard, king of the Romans, and Sir 
Edward, the prince before named. Given at Lewes the 
12th of May." The success of the battle followeth in the 
next chapter. 



" » J ' ■ ■■'■ P . '■ . . >■■ I ■■' ■ ■■■■'■' . ■■ J 

-"-*—■- — — — - f * - - ^ • 



HMJ.ii.J <« 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH. 



The deaths of Henry the 
third, and Richard, earl of 
Cornwall, king of the Romans. 
—Prince Edward's victories 
in the Holy Land. — His coro- 



nation. — The prophecy of hi* 
reign. — Bis first reducing of 
Wales under his dominion for 
ever. Tr e beginning of his 
' wars in Scotland, &c. 



WHEN the barons had received these letters, they 
were resolved to try it out by the sword, and on 
"Wednesday, being the 24th day of May, early in the mor- 
ning, both hosts met, where the Londoners, who took part 
with the barons, gave the first assault, bat were beaten 
back, somewhat to the dismay of the barons' army ; but, 
they cheared their fresh and lusty soldiers in such wise, 
that they valiantly came on ; by whose brave resolution, 
those before discomfited resumed their former strength and 
Tirtue, fighting without fear, insomuch that the king's 
Vaward gave back and left their places. In this battle the 
father spared not the son, nor the son the father, (such was 
the misery of those home-bred wars) insomuch that the 
field was every where strewed with dead bodies, for tha 
fight continued the greatest part of the day; at last the 
victory fell to the barons, so that were taken the king, the 
king of the Romans, and prince Edward, with 25 barons 
and banerets, and the people slain on both sides amount* 
ed to above 20,000. 

These royal prisoners being put in safe keeping* a peace 
was afterwards debated, and at length concluded* ^jmA the/ 

T % 



148 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

released, but it proved to small purpose, for many battles 
were afterwards fought between them, in which, some- 
times the king, and sometimes the barons had the better, 
(the circumstances are too long to relate) in which prince 
Edward bore himself bravely. In process, the 55th 
year of this king's reign, the king of the Romans made 
atonement between the king his brother, and Gilbert de 
Clare, earl of Glocester, who had continued the wars of 
the barons, upon condition that he should take a voyage 
into the Holy Land for the king, for which he should 
have, towards his charge, 8,000 marks in hand, and when 
he was on ship board, 4,000 more, and to be ready the 
first of May next following : but this failing in him, prince 
Edward undertook it in his stead. And the year after- 
wards, about the end of March, died Richard, emperor 
of Ahnain, king of the Romans, and earl of Cornwall, 
being the king's brother, after he had governed the empire 
between 15 and 16<years, and was buried at Hales, an 
abbey of white monks, which he had before time founded. 
And the year following, upon the 16th day of November, 
died Henry the third, king of England, after he had 
governed the realm 56 years and 27 days, leaving for his 
heir prince Edward, who was then in the Holy Land, and 
another son called Edmund Crowchback. His body was 
buried in the abbey of Westminster, and over him inscri- 
bed: 

Tertius HenricusjaceJ hic y pietatis amicus : 
Ecclesiam stravit islam^ qitam post renozavit. 
Reddat ei tnunus, qui regnat trinus S? unus. 

Thus Englished: 

Third Henry here doth rest. 

Of Piety possest, 
Down first his church he threw 7 
And after did renew. 
O grant him thy immunity ', 
Thou Trinity in Unity. 

- 

The premises confirm the prophecy of his reign towards 
the latter end of his time, which was turbulent and 
troublesome, to the exhausting of the king's treasure, the 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 149 

deaths of many of his noble barons, and almost to the 
destruction and desolation of the whole realm, therefore it 
was truly said of him: 

ci The king of beasts whose rage, 

His youth conceal'd, shall rouze him in his age, 

Against the Boare, the Talbot, and the Beare, 

The Mountaine Cat and Goat, with whom cohere, &c. M 

By the lion, the king is personated, and by the rest of 
the beasts and birds named, the several crests and embla- 
zons in the barons' arms and escutcheons, by which they 
were distinguished. Prince Edward, his son, was at the 
time of his death in the land of Palestine, of whom, also, it 
was thus predicted : 

" An Occidentall Dragon bright as noone, 

Shal breathing tlames) dark the Oriental Moon, 

The Cambrian Wolves he through their Woods shall 

chace, 
Nor cease till hee have quite extirpt their race. 
Then from the North shall fiery Meteors threat. 
Ambitious after bioud) to quencn their heat 
(The Dragon's bloud) at which his Crest will rise, 
And his scales flame: and where he treads as flies 
Fright all shall him oppose; the Northern Dyke 
Passe shall hee then, and set his foot in Wyke* 
After which, showers of bloud will fall upon 
And barren the faire fields of Caiedon. 
Then having ended what he took in hand, 
Die in the Marches of another Land." 

He, in the year 1271, and in the 55th year of his father's 
reign, upon the 20th of August, took shipping at Dover, 
and sailed thence to Bourdeaux, but, because the French 
army (bound upon the same adventure) was removed from 
thence, he sped afterwards, and met with them at Tunis, 
and from thence he took shipping for the Holy Land, and 
arrived with some French forces joined with his own, at 
Acris or Aeon, that time the Christians possessed that 
city only, and the city of Tyre, holding some few castles 
to preserve them from the rage of the holdaii. There he 
was honourably received, and with great joy ; after whose 
being there, the Soldau or Saladine, who had won all the 



150 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

country thereabout, came thither with an host of 160,000 
Saracens, and besieged the city, and made many bold and 
and bloody assaults, but the prince so valiantly de- 
meaned himself, that he defended the city, the castles 
belonging to it, and all the territories about, that, not- 
withstanding the multitude of the Soldans' army, he was 
compelled to forsake the siege to his great shame and 
dishonour. 

Even the French chronicles, whose custom it is to write 
boastingly of themselves, and sparingly of others, bestow 
on him a character of invincible courage, and that in all 
his stratagems and martial exploits, he so honourably 
behaved himself, that his very name was a terror to the 
Turks for many years afterwards ; who seeing his great 
boldness, and that they were not able to stand him in battle, 
they plotted how to take aw r ay his life by treason, and to 
that purpose, when he was resident in Aeon, they sent to 
him a Saracen, in the name of a secretary, who, in deliver- 
ing unto him a counterfeit message, wounded him in the 
arm with a poisoned knife, which he wresting from the 
infidel's hand, slew with (he same weapon, so that he died 
incontinently. Then he called for a surgeon, and with 
incomparable sufferance, commanded him to cut out all 
the putrified and corupted flesh, even to the scaling of the 
bone, without the least shrinking or alteration of counte- 
nance. Of which base treachery he was afterwards revenged 
upon them to their great detriment and damage. And 
thus: 

" The Occidenfall Dragon, bright as noon, 

Did (breathing flames) dazzle the oriental moon." 

He is called Occidental, as being bred in this our west* 
crn island, and the Soldan is figured in the Oriental Moon, 
being a prince in the eastern part of the world, and bearing 
the semicircled moon in his banner. Prince Edward, 
during his abode there, had by the princess his wife, a 
daughter called Joan, who took her name from the place, 
and was called Joan of Acris, because there born, and was 
afterwards married tp the earl of Glocester. After his 
being there two years and upwards, his father dying, he 
was called home to take possession of the crown of Eng- 
land. 



WITH HTS STRAKGE PROPHECIES. 151 

Edward, the first of i hat name, and son to Henry the 
third, (by reason of his tall stature, surnamed Long- 
sbanks,) began his reign November ] 7th, in the year of 
grace 1272, who came to London the second day of 
August, and was crowned at Westminster, the 14th of 
December following being the second year of his reign. 
At whose coronation was present Alexander, king of 
the Scotch, who, the morrow following', did homage to the 
king for the kingdom of Seotland ; but Llewellyn, prince 
of Wales, refused to come to that solemnity, for which 
king Edward gathered a strong power, and subdued him 
in his own borders. And in the year after, he called his 
high court of parliament, to which, also, Llewellyn, pre- 
sumptuously denied to come ; therefore, after Easter, he 
assembled new forces, and entering Wales, he constrained 
him to submit himself to his mercy, which with great 
difficulty he obtained. Then the kins: built the castle of 
Flint, and strengthened the castle of Rutland, to keep the 
Welsh in due obedience. 

He gave also to David, brother of Llewellyn, the 
castle of Froddesham, who remained in his court, and with 
his seeming service much delighted the king: but David 
did it only as a spy, to give his brother secret intelligence 
of whatsoever the king or his council said of him or 
against him, who took his opportunity, and privately left 
the court, stirring up his brother to a new rebellion ; of 
which the king being informed, he could hardly think 
that he could prove so ungrateful, but being better as- 
certained of the truth, he made fierce war upon them. 
At length, Llewellyn was strictly besieged in Swandon 
castle, from which, when he thought early on a morning 
to escape with ten knights only, he was met by Sir Roger 
Mortimer, upon whose lands he had before done great 
out-rage) who surprised him and cut off his head, and 
sent it to the king, being then at Rutland, who command- 
ed it to be pitched on a pole, and set upon the tower of 
London; and further, that all his heirs should be disin- 
herited, and their claim to the sovereignty of Wales to be 
deprived, the right thereof solely remaining in the kings of 
England and their successors. Soon afterwards was his 
brother David taken, and afterwards doomed to be drawn, 
hanged, and quartered, and his head sent to the tower, 



15f THE LIFE OF MERLIBT, 

and placed by his brother Llewellyn's, in which th# 
prophecy is verified : 

" The Cambrian Wolves, he through their woods shall 

chace, 
Nor cease till he have quite extirpt their Race." 

Of this Llewellyn, a Welsh metrician wrote this epitaph. 

Ilicjacet Anglorum tortor, tutor Venedorum, 
Princeps Wallorum, Lewetinus regula morum, 
Gemma Cocevorum 9 Jlos regain prcetet torum: 
Forma futurorum, Dux, Laus, Lex, Lux populorum* 

Thus anciently Englished : 

Of Englishmen the scourge, of IVtlsh the protector , 
Llewellin the Prince, rue of all virtue, 
Gemme of Liters, and of all others the /lower: 
Who unto death hath paid his debt du: , 
Gf Kings a mirrour that after him ensue, 
Duke, and Priest, and of the Law the right, 
Flere i?i this grave, of people lyeth the light. 

To which an English poet of those times made this 
answer : 

Jlic jacet errorum princeps ac procdo virorum, 
Proditor Anglorum, fax lavida, secta reorum, 
Nun: en Wallorum, Trux, Dux, Homicida piorumt 
Fex Trojanorum, stirps mendax, causa malorum. 

Thus Englished: 

Here lyeth of Errour, the Prince if he will ken: 

Thief and Robber, and Traylor to Englishmen, 

A dimme brood, a iSect of doers evil!, 

God of Welshmen, cruel/ without skill, 

In slaying the good, and Leader of the bad: 

Lastly rewarded, as he deserved had: 

Of Trojans blood the di egs, and not the seed; 

A root of fahhood, and cause of many evitl deed. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 153 

In the 20th year of the king, upon St. Andrew's eve, 
being the 29th of November, died queen Eleanor, sister to 
the king of Spain, by whom the king had four sons, John, 
Henry, Alphons, and Edward ; the three first died, and Ed- 
ward, the youngest, succeeded his father; and five daugh- 
ters, Eleanor, who was married to William of Bar; Joan 
of Acris to the earl of Glocester, Gilbert de Clare ; Mar- 
garet to the duke's son of Brabant ; Mary, who was made a 
nun at Ambrisbury ; and Elizabeth, espoused to the earl of 
Holland, and after his death to Humphrey Bohun, earl of 
Hereford. 

This year, also, died old queen Eleanor, wife to Henry 
the third, and mother to kiri£ Edward. 1 now come to 
the 24th year of his reign, in which, Alexander, king of 
Scotland being dead, he left three daughters ; the first was 
married to Sir John Baliol, the second to Sir Robert 
le Bruise, the third to one Hastings; amongst whom, 
there fell a dissention about the title to the crown, as shall 
appear in the next chapter. 



l*^ y ^ * » i j^ i'' " ' ^JV^ »' ^^^^ j ^^^g;jj^^ 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER NINETEENTH. 



The rights that the kings of 
England anciently had to the 
crown of Scotland, for which 
they received homage. — King 
Edward's victorious wars in 
Scotland. — The prophecy ful- 



filled, — His death and coro- 
nation of his son, &c. — The 
death of Gaveston, with a pro- 
phecy of king Edward the 
second. 



THESE three before-named, Baliol, Bruse, and Has- 
tings, came to king Edward, as chief lord and sove- 
reign of that land, to dispose of the right of their titles to 
his pleasure, and they to abide his censure : who, to the 
intent that they might know he was the sole competent 
judge in that case, caused old evidences and chronicles to 
be searched ; amongst which was Marianus the Scot, 
William of Malmsbury, Roger of Huntington, and others; 
in which were found, and read before them, that in the 
year of grace 920, king Edward, the eldest, made subject 
unto him the two kings of Cambria and Scotland. In the 
year 921, the said kina;s of Wales and Scotland, chose 
the same Edward to be their lord and patron. In the 
year 926, Ethelstane, king of England, subdued Constan- 
tine, king of Scots, who did him fealty and homage. And 
Edredus, brother and successor to Ethelstane, subdued the 
Scotch again, with the North umbers, who reigned under 
him. 

It was also found in the said chronicles, that king Edgar 
overcame Alpinus, the son of Kinudus, king of Scots, and 
received of him homage, as he had done to his father 
before time. And, that Canutus, in the 16th year of his 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 155 

reign, overcame Malcolm, king of Scots, and received of 
him oath and homage. That W illiam the Conqueror, in the 
sixth year of bis reign, was victorious over Malcolm, who 
before received the kingdom of the gift of fid ward the 
Confessor, who did him fealty. The like did Malcolm 
and his two sons to William, surnamed the Red, son to 
the Conqueror. David, king of Scots, did homage also to 
Stephen, king of England. William, king of Scots, did 
the like to Henry the t&ird, at the time of his coronation ; 
and when this Henry was dead, he came .afterwards to his 
father, Henry the second, into Normandy, and did the 
like to him also. Alexander, king of Scots, in the 31st 
year of Henry the second, (son of king John) married, at 
York, the daughter of the said Henry, and did him ho- 
mage for the realm of Scotland, &c. 

Further was shewed unto them the pope's bulls sent into 
Scotland; by virtue whereof, those of their kings were 
accursed, that would not be obedient to their lords, the 
kings of England. Briefly, they acknowledging all these 
to be true, bonds were made on both sides, in which king 
Edward was tied in an 100,000 pounds, to nominate their 
king, and the Scots again bound to obey him nominated as 
their sovereign. After which writings were sealed, they deli- 
vered the possession of the kingdom of Scotland to king Ed- 
ward's hands, to preserve it to his own use, of whom he 
would make election; who made choice of Sir John Ba- 
liol, as true and immediate heir, by marrying the eldest 
sister, for which he did him homage and swore him fealty. 
Which done, the Scotch with their new king departed 
joyfully into Scotland. 

But soon afterwards, Baliol repented him of his oath, 
and as some say, by the council of the abbot of Menrose, 
others by the instigation of the king of France; but whe- 
ther by one or both, it is certain, that he perfidiously 
revolted, and made war upon England; which Edward 
hearing, he sped with a great host into Scotland, and laid 
siege to Barwick, but they bravely defended the town, and 
burnt some of our English, with which they were so infla- 
med with pride, that they made this scornful rhyme upon 
the English : 

% 2 



156 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

What ween is King Edward with his long shanks, 
To have zeoii Barwicke, all our unlhankes, 

Gaas pikes him, 

Jndwhen he had it, 

Gaas dikes him. 

At which, king Edward being mightily moved, so 
encouraged his soldiers, that they first won the ditches, and 
afterwards with great difficulty the Bulwarks, and then 
came to the gates, which they enforced, and entering the 
town, slew 25,700 Scots, and lost no man of note, save 
Richard, earl of Cornwall, and of meaner people 27, and 
no more. Which, hitherto, upholds the former predic- 
tion : 

" Then from the North shall fiery Meteors threat, 
Ambitious after blood to quench their heate. 
(The Dragon's blood) at which his Crest wil rise, 
And his scales flame: & where he treads or flies 
Fright all shall him oppose, the Northern Dyke 
Pass shall he then, and set his foot in wyke." 

By the northern dyke, is implied the river Tweed, and 
by wyke, the town of Barwick: but 1 pursue the history. 
The king having possest the town and castle, he sent Sir 
Hugh Spencer, with Sir Hugh Parcy, and other noble- 
men to besiege Dunbar ; whither came a mighty host to 
remove them thence, with whom the English had a fierce 
and cruel battle, in which were slain of the Scots 22,000, 
and of the English a very small number. Wherefore, the 
English to reproach the Scots, in regard of their former 
rhyme made this: 

The scattered Scots hold we for sots. 

Of wrenches tinware, 
Earehj in a morning, in an evill timing, 

Came yee to Dunbar. 

After the taking of the town and castle of Dunbar, the 
king besieged the city of Edinburgh, and won both it and 
the castle, in which were found the regalities of state, 
which king Edward took thence, (and offered them at 
the shrine of St. Edward, upon the eighteenth day of June 



WITH HIS STRANGE PHOPHEClES. 157 

the year following.) Then, Sir John Baliol, with divers 
of his clergy and nobility, submitted themselves to the 
king's grace; and having settled the affairs of Scotland, he 
brought them up to London, and then asked them what 
amends they would make him for all the trouble and da- 
mage they had put him to ; who answered, they wholly 
submitted themselves to his mercy. He then replied, your 
lands nor your goods do I desire, but I will that you take 
the sacrament to be my true feodaries, and never more to bear 
arms against me: to which they willingly assented ; of 
which were Sir John Commin, the earl of Stratherne, and 
the earl of Carick, and four bishops, took oath in behalf of 
themselves and the whole clergy. Which done, the king 
gave them safe conduct to their country. 

But not long afterwards, they hearing the king was 
busied in his wars of Gascoine, against the French king, 
they made anew insurrection, having one William Wal- 
lis, a desperate ruffian, and of low condition, to be thei* 
chief leader, which the king hearing, having ordered 
his affairs in France, he sped towards Scotland, and 
entering the kingdom, he burnt and wasted wheresoever he 
came, sparing only all churches, religious houses, and the 
poor people who besought him of mercy. At length, he 
met with the Scottish army upon St. Mary Mawdlin's day, 
at a place called Fonkirk, where he gave them battle, and 
slew of them 33,000, with the loss only of 28 men, and no 
more; and finding no other enemies able to resist him, he 
returned into England, and married Margaret, the French 
king's sister, by which, a peace betwixt England and 
France was concluded. 

Then went king Edward a third time into Scotland, and 
almost famished the land, and took the strong castle of 
Estrevelin, and soon afterwards was taken William Wallis, 
at the town of St. Dominick, who was sent to London, where 
he received his judgement, and upon St. Bartholomew's 
eve, was drawn and quartered, his head struck off, and 
set on London bridge, and his four quarters sent to be 
hanged up in the four chief cities of Scotland. After this, 
Robert le Bruce claimed the crown of Scotland, without 
acquainting king Edward therewith, and drove all the 
Englishmen out of the land, of which he vowed revenge, 
and to hang up all the traitors in that kingdom. Who, 



158 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

before he set forward upon tha£ expedition, made 404 
knights at Westminster upon a Whitsun-Sunday, with 
whom, and the rest of his army, he once more pierced 
Scotland, and upon Friday, before the assumption of our 
lady, he met with Sir Robert le Bruce and his host besides 
St. John'stown, and slew of them 7000 at the first encounter, 
and the rest fled. In this battle was taken Sir Simon Frizell, 
and sent to London, where he was drawn, hanged, and 
quartered. There suffered also, John, earl of Athelus, 
and John, brother to William Wallis, but Robert le 
Bruce, fled from Scotland into Norway, to the king, who 
had married his sister. 

When king Edward had thus abated the pride of his 
enemies, he returned again southward, and a great sick- 
ness took him at Bozroes upon Sands, in the marches of 
Scotland, beyond Carlisle; and when he knew he should 
die, he called unto him Aymer dp Valence, earl of Pem- 
broke, Sir Henry Piercy, earl of Northumberland, Sir 
Henry Lacie, earl of Lincoln, and Sir Robert Clifford, 
baron, and swore them to crown his son, Edward of Car- 
narvon, after his death. Then, he called his son, charg- 
ing him with many things upon his blessing, but espe- 
cially, that he should never receive Pierce Gaveston, his 
old companion (before banished) into the kingdom, and 
so died upon the seventh of July, when he had reigned 
34 years, seven months, and odd days, and thence his bo- 
dy was conveyed to Westminster, and there buried; ap- 
proving the prophecy : 

,c After which, showres of blood will fall upon, 
And barren the faire fields of Caledon : 
Then having ended what he took in hand, 
Die in the marches of another Land." 

Upon whose tomb this distich was inscribed : 

Dum Dixit ReX) 8? xaluit sua magna potestas^ 
Fraus latuit,pax magna fuit, regnavit honestas. 

Thus in those days Englished : 



WITH HI8 STRANGE PROPHECIES. 159 

While Iked this King, by his power all things. 

Was in good plight, 
For guile was hid, great peace was kid. 

And honesty had might. 

Of his son, prince Edward, the prophecy runs thu»: 

" A Goat shall then appeare out of a Carr, 

With silver hornes (not Iron) unfit for warre, 

And above other shall delight to feed 

Upon the flower, that life and death doth breed. 

A Cornish Eagle clad in plumes of gold 

(Borrowed from others) shall on high behold 

What best can please him to maintain his pride. 

Whose painted feathers shall the Goat misguide, 

Who at length ayming to surprise the Beare, 

Him shall the rowzed beast in pieces teare. 

Two Owles shall from the Eagles ashes rise, 

And in their pride the Forest beasts despise. 

They forc't at first to take their wings and flie 

Shall (back returning) beare themselves so hie, 

T' out- brave both birds and beasts, and great spoyls 

winne, 
By the Goats casing in a Lions skin. 
But after, he themselves depriv'd of breath 
By her they scorn'd (the flower of life and death) 
And the crown'd Goat, thinking himself secure 
Shall (after all) a wretched end endure." 

To confirm which, Edward^ the second of that name, 
(and son of Edward the first) born at Carnarvon, a town of 
Wales, began his reign over England, the eighth of July, 
in the year of grace 1,307, and was crowned at West- 
minster the 14th day of December, whose father's obse- 
quies were scarcely ended ; but forgeting the great charge 
and command laid upon him in his death, he sent in haste 
for his old friend and familiar, Pierce Gaveston, out of 
France, whom he received with great joy. Then, sailing 
into France the 15th of January following, at Boulogne in 
Picardy, espoused Isabel!, the daughter of Phillip the 
Fair, and returned with her into England, where soon 
afterwards he made Gaveston earl of Cornwall, and gave 
him the lordship of Walliugford, to the great displeasure 



160 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

of the barons, who were sworn to his father not to suffer 
him to come to the realm. 

In the second year of his reign, remembering the com- 
plaint that Stephen Langton, bishop of Chester, had made 
or him and Gaveston, for sundry riots committed in his 
father's days, for which he was banished, he sent him 
prisoner to the tower, where he was strictly kept and ill 
attended. For which end, seeing how by this Pierce, the 
king's treasury was hourly exhausted ; the barons assem- 
bled themselves, and contrary to the king's pleasure, ba- 
nished him into Ireland for a year, where the king gave 
him the dominion over the whole land, but so mourned 
and lamented his absence, that, by the consent of his 
lords, he was shortly called back again, where he de- 
meaned himself with greater pride and insolence than at 
first, despising the lords and chief peers of the land, 
calling Sir Robert of Clare, earl of Gloeester, Whoreson; 
the earl of Lincoln, Sir Henry Lacy Burstenbelly ; Sir 
Guy, earl of Warwick, Black dog of Arderne ; and the 
noble earl Thomas of Lancaster, Churl. And moreover, 
haying the keeping and command of all the king's trea- 
sure, he took out of the jewel-house, a table of gold, 
and tressels of the same, which belonged once to 
king Arthur; with many other invaluable jewels, and 
delivered them to a merchant called Amery of Friksband, 
to bear them over into Gascoin ; which was a great loss 
to the kingdom. And further, by his loose and effemi- 
nate conditions, he drew the king to many horrible vices, 
as adultery, (and as some think) sodomy, with others. 
Therefore the lords again assembled, and maugre the king, 
banished him into Flanders. 

In the first year, upon the day of St. Brice, being 
the 13th day of November, was born at Windsor, the 
first and eldest son of king Edward, that after his father 
was king of England, and named Edward the third. And 
the same year, Gaveston was called out of Flanders by the 
king, and restored to all his former honours; and then he 
demeaned himself more contemptuously towards the 
barons than before, who besieged him in the castle of 
Scarborough, and won it, and took him, and brought 
him to Gaversed, besides Warwick, and there smote off 
his head, which was done at the instigation of Thomas, earl 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 161 

of Lancaster, (whom Merlin calls the Bear) and this 
appro veth the premises : 

<c A Cornish Eagle clad in plumes of gold, 
(Borrowed from others) shall on high behold, 
What best can please him to maintain his pride. 
Whose painted feathers shall the Goat misguid: 
Who at length aiming to surprise the Beare y 
Him shall the rowzed beast in piece* teare." 



j» 



^^r^^v " wy€W.w^.ui.i.x j I i — — m 



— % 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTIETH. 



The king's unfortunate wars 
in Scotland.— The battle of 
Ban nock born, &c — Berwick 
betrayed to the Scots. — The 
pride and insolence of the 
Spencers. — Their misleading 
the king, — Their hatred to | 



the queen. — She is sent oyer 
into France. — Her yictorious 
return with the prince. — The 
king and his minions taken. 
—The death of the two Spen- 
cers, &c. 




Y the Cornish Eagle, in the former chapter, is meant 
Pierce Gaveston, earl of Cornwall ; by his plumes 
of gold, his pride and riches, borrowed and extorted from 
others; by the Goat, the king, who was given to all 
intemperate effeminacy; by the Bear, Thomas, earl of 
Lancaster, &c. This king was of a beautiful aspect and 
excellent feature; of a strong constitution of body, but 
unstedfast in promise, and ignoble in condition, as refusing 
the company of men of honour, to associate himself with 
lewd and vile persons. He was much addicted to bibacity and 
apt to discover matters of great counsel and oi stupration and 
adultery, persuaded thereto by his familiars, the French- 
men, for whose death the kins: vowed an irreconcilable 
revenge against the barons, which he afterwards performed. 
Indeed, so unking-like was his misgovernment, that a 
base villain, called John Tanner, named himself the son of 
Edward the first, and that, by the means of a false nurse, 
he was stolen out of his cradle, and this Edward, being a 
cartels son, was laid in his place, which the people, for 
the former reason, were easily induced to believe ; but the 
impostor was discovered, and by his own confession, judged 
to be hanged and quartered. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES, 163 

In the seventh year of his reign, Robert le Bruce, king 
of Scots, whom his father made to tiy into Norway, hearing 
of the misguiding of the kingdom, and the dissention 
between him and his barons, warred strongly against him 
and his friends in Scotland, and won from them castles 
and holds, howsoever well munified, to the great damage 
of the English, who were interressed in the land. For 
which affront, the king assembled a great power, and 
invaded Scotland by sea, burning and destroying all such 
towns and villages as were in his way ; which Robert le 
Bruce hearing, hasted with a strong army, and upon 
St. John the Baptist's day, both hosts met at a place called 
Estrivelin, near unto a fresh river called Bannockborn, 
where between them was fought a cruel battle, in which the 
English were compelled to forsake the field. For which, 
in derision of the English, the Scots made this rhyme 
doggerel : 

Maidens of England, sore may you mourn. 
For the Lemans you have lost at Bannockborn 

With a heave and hoe: 
What weened the King of England, so soone to 

Have wonne Scotland ? 

With a Rumby low. 






In his ninth year, Berwick was betrayed to the Scots, 
by one Peter Spalding, whom the king had made governor 
of the town and castle. And in the eleventh year, the 
Scots entered the borders of Northumberland, most crueliy 
robbing and burning the country, even the houses of *vo- 
men who lay in child-bed, not sparing a#e nor sex, reli- 
gious nor others; therefore, the king raised a new army, 
and laid siege to Berwick. In which interim, the Scots 
past the river Swale, and leaving the coast where the king's 
people lay, came into the borders of Yorkshire, to whom 
the arch-bishop, with priests and ploughmen, (unexercised 
in arms) gave battle, but were discomfited; in which so 
many priors, clerks, canons, and other clergymen were 
slain, that they called it the White Battle/ When the 
king heard of this overthrow, he broke up his siege, and 
retired to York, and soon afterwards to London, 

After this, nothing was done without the advice of the 

x 2 



164 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

two Hugh Spencers, the father and the son. And in a 
council held at York, Hugh Spencer, the son, rnaugre 
the lords, was made high chamberliin of England ; who 
bore it so haughtily as ever Gaveston did. But let me take 
the prophecy along : 

** A Goat shall then appeare out of a Carr, 
"With silver homes (not iron) unfit for warre, 
And above other shall delight to feed 
Upon the flower, that life and death doth breed." 

By the Goat, is figured lascivious Edward, therefore 
said to appear out of a Car, as born in Carnarvon ; His 
horns of silfer and not of iron, denotes his effeminacy, 
bring unserviceable for war, as may appear in the success 
agaiiist the Scots; by the flower of life and death, is 
intended his queen Isabel, the flower of France, at first 
dear to him as life, but in the end, (as most writers have 
suspected) with Mortimer, accessary to his death. But 
to proceed with the history, 

The barons (to a great number) seeing how the Spencers 
misled the king, and misgoverned the affairs of the land, 
assembled themselves, and took a solemn and unanimous 
vow to remove them out of the kingdom: and at their first 
attempt, certain oi them appointed to that purpose, entered 
upon the castles and manors of the Spencers, in the marches 
of Wales, spoiling and ruining them to the earth; of 
whiv h riot they complained to the king, who summoned 
them to appear before his council, which they retused to 
do, but gathered unto them a stronger host, and sent to 
his majesty, humbly beseeching him to remove from his 
person the two Spencers, who daily did to him great 
dishonour, and to the common- weal. .'Which damage, 
with humble request the king hearing, and doubting his 
own safety, called a parliament, to be held at London, to 
which the barons came with a great host, all suited in 
demy-parted jackets, of yellow and green, with a list of 
white cast overthwart, for which the common people 
called it the Parliament of White-Bands, in which the 
two Spencers were banished the kingdom for ever. 

But the year following, the king revoked the acts made 
in the former parliament, and called them into England, 



WITH HIS STRAXGE PROPHECIES. 165 

contrary to the will of the barons, and set them in greater 
authority than before, to the great disturbance, and almost 
utter subversion of the realm, for now the whole land was 
in conbustion, and the king animated by the Spencers, 
took upon him the shape of a lion, and ceased not till he 
had cut off the chief and prime nobility of the land; for 
besides those that were slain, none was brought to the bar, 
but was thence led to the block; who having got the 
better of his barons, he called a parliament at York, in 
which, Hugh Spencer, the father, was made earl of Win- 
chester; and soon afterwards, was one Robert Baldock, a 
fellow of debauched life and condition, made chancellor of 
England. Then forfeits and fines were gathered, without 
sparing of privileged places, or others, till a mighty sum 
was gathered towards another expedition into Scotland: 
and then his army consisted (according to Caxton and 
others) of an 100,000 men, but he sped in that as in the 
former, for on St. Luke's d ay, at a place called Bella- 
laund, or Brighland, he was like to have been taken as he 
sat at dinner, which could not have been, had he not had 
some traitors about him. And now confer the premises 
with the prophecy : 

u Two Owles shall from the Eagles ashes rise. 

And in their pride the Forest beasts despise. 

They fore't at first to take their wings and flie 

Shall (back returning) beare themselves so hie, 

T' out-brave both birds and beasts, and great spoyls 

winne, 
By the Goat's casing in a Lions skin," 

The two Owls are the two Spencers, who from the ashes 
of the Cornish Eagle , Gaveston, grew into the especial 
favour of the king, who were said to case the Goat in the 
skin of a Lion^ by animating the effeminate king to the 
wars against the barons, by whose deaths they got many 
rich spoils, and then forced to take their wings to fly, 
where they were banished from the realm at the parlia- 
ment of White-Bands, &c. 

The state of the kingdom thus standing, and the two 
Spencers commanding all the land, had wars with France 
about the duchy of Guian. To attone which difference 
between the two kings, the two Spencers being in all things 



166 THB LIFE OF MEIILIN, 

opposite to the queen, whom they had brought to the bare 
allowance and pension of 20 shillings a day. They fur- 
ther plotted how to rid her out of the land, and persuaded 
the king to send her into France, to make peace between 
the two kingdoms, having before seized on all her lands, 
and those belonging to the prince. Briefly, the queen 
arrived in France, and was royally received by her bro- 
ther, who hearing of her base usage, and by whom, he was 
much incensed against the king and his wicked counsell- 
ors, and sent to him under his seal to come in person into 
France, to do him homage, or he should forfeit the duchy 
of Guian; of which king Edward took little regard, in 
hope his queen would salve all things that were amiss 
between her brother and her husband. 

After the queen's three months abode in France, the 
prince desired of his father, that he might have leave to 
visit his mother and uncle, which his father granted, and 
said to him at parting, u Go, my fair son, in God's bless- 
ing and mine, and return to me again as speedily as yon 
may." Who passing the sea, and coming to the king's 
court, he joyfully received him, and said : u Fair son, you 
be welcome, and since your father came not to do homage 
for the duchy of Guian, as his antecessors have done, I 
give you the lordship to hold of me in heritage." And so 
the prince was created^and thence-forward called the duke 
of Guian. 

Which being known to king Edward, he was highly 
incensed, especially because the prince was instated into 
that honour without his consent and pleasure ; and finding 
that (notwithstanding his often sending) they made no haste 
to return, he made proclamation, that if within such a day 
prefixed, they made not their repair into the land, they 
should be held as enemies to the crown and state. But 
the queen, much fearing the malice of the Spencers, 
whom she knew to be her mortal enemies, she removed 
not thence. Then the king made forfeiture of all theiF 
goods and lands before seized, and took the profits of them 
to his own use, and sent sharp and threatening letters to 
the French king, if he suffered them to sojourn longer in 
his realm ; upon which he commanded them thence, with- 
out any further comfort or succour. 

At that time Sir John Henaud, brother to the earl of 



"WITH HIS ITRANei PROPHCEIES. 167 

Henaud (a man of great courage and valour) being in the 
French court, much commiserating the queen and the 
prince, desired her to go with him to his brother, the earl, 
of which she was glad, and taking his noble offer, was 
there honourably received. Then was a marriage con- 
cluded between prince Edward and Phillip the earl's 
daughter, upon certain conditions, one of which was, that 
the earl should send over into England the queen and her 
son, with 400 men at arms, under the conduct of his brother. 
In which interim, the two Spencers sent three barrels of 
coin, with letters to some of the French peers, that if it 
were possible they should make away the queen or her son, 
or at least send them away disgraced outof the realm ; which 
money and letters were taken by a ship of the Henauders, 
and brought to the queen during her abode there. Which 
the carl's brother seeing, said unto her, lie of comfort 
madam, this is a good omen, the Spencers, your enemies, 
have sent you money to pay your soldiers. 

Of which, the king of England having intelligence, 
sent to all the ports and havens, to interdict their landing* 
Notwithstanding which, the queen and prince, with these 
400 Hollanders, and a small company of English gentle- 
men, who had fled to her during the time of her exile, 
landed at a place called Orwel, besides Harwich in Suffolk 
the 15th of September, (Sir John Henaud, the earl's 
brother, being their captain and leader) without any oppo- 
sition or resistance; to whom, after their landing, the 
people resorted in great companies, and sped towards 
London, where the king and the Spencers were then resi- 
dent , who hearing of the multitudes that then drew unto 
her, left Walter Stapleton, bishop of Exeter, custos of the 
city, and with a small company fled towards Wales; she 
came then to London, where the people were willing to re- 
ceive her, which the bishop with many sharp and bitter 
words opposing, the commons of the city took him violently, 
and beheaded him with two of his esquires, at the standard 
in West-cheap, whose bodies were borne to the Thames 
side, (where the bishop had begun a new edifice contrary 
to their liking) and there irreverently buried. 

The queen with an easy march followed the king, who 
lame to Bristol with the earl of Arundell, the two Spea- 
cers, and his infamous chancellor Baldock; where after 



168 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C, 

counsel taken, it was agreed, that Hugh Spencer, the 
father, should stay there, and take charge of the town and 
castle, whilst the king and the rest took shipping thence 
for Wales, to rise the Welshmen in^iis aid. Of which 
the queen having notice, sent thither the earl of Kent, Sir 
John Henaud, with others, who with small difficulty took 
the town and castle, with Hugh Spencer, the father, alive, 
and delivered them to the queen, who remained there till 
the greatest part of her army pursued the king and his 
other minions into Wales, who took the king, the earl of 
Arundell, Hugh Spencer, the son, and the chancellor, and 
brought them all prisoners to Hereford. In which inte- 
rim, the citizens of London won the tower, and kept it to 
the queen's use. 

Upon the morrow after the feast of Simon and June, 
the same day that the lord mayor takes his oath, was Huirh 
Spencer, the father, put to death, and afterwards buried at 
YV in Chester ; and upon St. Hugh's day following, being 
the 18ib day of ^November, was Sir Hugh, the son, drawn, 
hanged, and quartered at Hereford, and his head sent to 
London, and set upon the bridge, making good ; 

*f They after be themselves depriv'd of breath, 

By her they sconrd, the flower of life and death." 

The common fame went, that after this Hugh was taken, 
lie would take no manner of sustenance, and that was the 
cause he w as the sooner put to death . of w horn w as made this 
distich following : 

Funis dim lignis, ate, miser ensis & ignis: 
Hugo, securus equus, abstidit omne decus, 

Rope, gallozcs, szcord, and fire, wHh a just knife. 
Took from thee Hugh, thy honour zcith thy life. 

Four days afterwards was the earl of Arundell put to 
death, and Robert Baldock, the chancellor, beino- com- 
mitted to Newgate, died miserably in prison. Then the 
queen, with the prince her son, with the rest of the lords, 
were with great joy the 14th day of December, received at 
London, and thence conveyed to Westminster, where a 
parliament was called: the effect whereof expect in the 
following chapter. 



« 



!?»»»"«ej«-«n«*w* 



22 



A I U Wl?k^' 



" Hf-JM... J .. HM J "- ,l1 ' 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST. 



The deposing of Edward the 
second. — Mis repentance.— His 
death. — Ills son Edward made 
king. — A prophecy of his reign. 
- — His great victory over the 
Scots, with thz taking of Ber- 
wick. — His famous, victory at 



sea over the French. — He 
lays claim to the crown of 
France. — Instituteth the or- 
der of the garter, — Mis victo- 
ry at Cressy. — His taking of 
Calais, kc. 



rr-rx— n, in mi— 




IROM tkjs parliament were messengers sent to the king, 
then prisoner in Kenei worth castle, three bishops, 
three earls, two abbots, two barons, two judges, with Sir 
William Trussell, procurator of the parliament, to depose 
him of all kingly dignity ; who, on the 25th day of January, 
in the presence of the aforesaid lords, from the body of the 
whole house, delivered unto him these words following: 

u I, William Trussel, in the name of all men of this 
land of England, (procurator of this parliament) resign to 
thee Edward, the homage that was sometimes made to thee, 
and from this time forth, deprive thee of all king!y r power, 
and I shall never be attendant on thee, as king, after this 
time." And thus was Edward the second deposed, (and 
his son Edward made king) when he had reigned full IS 
years, six months and odd days ; who, during his imprison- 
ment, first at Kenel worth, and afterwards at Barckley castle, 
grew greatly repentant of his former course of life, finding, 
at length, what it was to be misled by upstarts, and people 
of mean condition. Many of whose penitential fancies 
are still extant 3 and amongst the rest this following : 



170 *HE LIFE OF MEJtLIXj 

Most blessed Jesu* 
iiooJ 0/ alltertue, 
Grant I may thee sue, 
In all humilities 

Sen thou for our good 
List to shed thy blood 
And stretch thee on the Rood 
For our iniquitie: 

I thee beseech, 
Most wholsome leech, 
That thou wilt seech 
For me such grace, 

That wh*n ray body rile 
My soule shall exile, 
Thou bring in short ichile, 
It in rest and peace* 

Edward, the third of that name, son of Edward the se- 
cond, and Phillip, sole daughter of Phillip the Fair, at 15 
years of age, began his reign (his father yet living) the 
$6th of January, in the end of the year of grace 1326, and 
was crowned at Westminster upon the day of the purifi- 
cation of our lady next ensuing. At which time, the 
earth yielded plenty, the air temper, the sea quietness, and 
the church peace. He confirmed the liberties and fran- 
chises of London, and gave Southwark to be under the 
lord mayor's rule and government. Of whose reign it was 
thus predicted: 

" The spirits of many Lions shall conspire, 
To make one (by infusion) sointirc: 
He by his mighty courage shall restore 
What his sire lost, and Grandsire wonne before: 
Neptune his Navall triumphs shall advance. 
His Coat he quarters with th' Flower of France, 
And after mauger the Canicular Tyke, 

Tueed shal he passe and win again the Wyke. 
A numerous issue shall his Lioness bring, 
Black shall the first be, and though never King, 
"Vet shall he Kings captive, but ere mature, 

Die must his brave Whelp of a Calenture, 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 171 

And then behind him shall he leave a Kid 
To undo all, both sire and grandsire did." 

The effect of all these will succeed in their order. In 
the first year of this king's reign, the late kin^ Edward was 
miserably slain, and put to a most cruel death, by the 
means of Sir Roger Mortimer, who, notwithstanding, in 
the parliament after, was made earl of March. The same 
year, the 24th of January, the young king married the 
lady Phillip, daughter to the earl ofHenault, in the city of 
York, and soon afterwards called a parliament at Nor- 
thampton, to which, by the means of Sir Roger Mortimer, 
and the old queen, an unprofitable and dishonourable peace 
was made with the Scots, who caused the king to release 
them of all fealty and homage, and delivered up to them 
all the old writings sealed by their kings and chief lords of 
their land, with all charters and patents, and many rich 
jewels before had been won from them by the kings of 
England; amongst which, the black cross of Scotland is 
especially named ; and the year following, David, the son 
of Robert le Bruce, king of'Scots, married Jane, sister to 
the king of England, whom they afterwards, to the deri- 
sion of the English, called Jane make Peace ^ and amongst 
other taunting songs made of our nation, this was one : 

Isong beards heartlesse> 
Painted bodies witlesse: 
Gay coats gracelesse, 
Maketh England thriftlesse. 

But these merry and jigging tunes, were turned to their 
most lamentable ay mee*s within few months afterwards. 

During the king's minority, all the affairs of the realm 
were managed by Sir Roger Mortimerand the mother queen, 
and the great persons appointed to that purpose were vilified 
and not set by. Which Sir Roger, in imitation of king 
Arthur, was said to keep a round table, to which many 
noble knights belonged, to his infinite cost and expence. 
But howsoever, in the third year of the king, the said Sir 
Roger was surprised in Nottingham castle, though the 
keys were day and night in his own keeping, and sent to 
the tower, who was accused of the lords of the parliament, 

y 2 



\ 



172 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

of these particulars following : First, of the bloody mur- 
der of Edward of Carnarvon in Berkeley castle. Secondly, 
that he had confederated with the Scots against the honour 
of the kino*. Thirdly, that he had received great sums of 
money from Sir James Douglas, captain of the Scots, de- 
livering unto him the charter called Ragman, to the Scots' 
gvc:t f advantage, and impoverishing of England. Fourthly, 
thai he had ingrossed into his hands much of the king's 
tre.sme, which he had riotously wasted to his own use; 
by which means the king was forced to borrow of his 
friends. Fifthly, that he was more private and familiar 
with queen Isabel, the king's mother, than was to God's 
pleasure and the king's honour. Of which articles being 
convicted, he was, by authority of the said parliament, 
judged to death, and upon St. Andrew's eve following, 
at London, drawn and hanged. 

In his fourth year, about the beginning of August, Sir 
Ed\fcard Balio!, the son of Sir John JBaliol, sometime king 
of Scots, obtained such favour of king Edward, that with 
the aid of Sir Henry Beaumont, Sir David Stoekley, Sir 
Jeffrey Mowbray, and 2,000 Englishmen, they entered 
Scotland by sea, where drew 7 to them such multitude, that 
in a short time, Sir Edward was a lord of a great host, and 
kept his way till he came to a place called Gladismore, (or 
as some write) Crakismore, where he was encountered 
with the power of Scotland, where between them was 
fought a sharp and cruel battle, in which a great number 
of the natives were slain, by reason whereof he was crowned 
king at the town of Stone shortly afterwards, and met with 
the king at New-castle^ where Edward received of him 
fealty and homage for the crown of Scotland. But soon 
afterwards* the Scots laid plots against his life, which he 
narrowly escaped, being forced to fly from place to place, 
and hide himself; which king Edward hearing, with a 
strong army pierced the realm of Scotland, and laid siege 
to the town of Berwick. 

Upon the 19th of July, the Scots with a mighty power 
made thither, -with purpose to remove the siege: whom 
king Edward met, and encountered on Halidon hi!!, giv- 
i g them battle, over whom he had a triumphant victory, 
i esomuch that lie slew of them seven earls, 900 knights and 
bannerets, 400 esquires, and of the common people 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 173 

32,000 ; in which battle were slain of the English bat 15 
persons. After which glorious victory, the captain of 
Berwick, the morrow following, being 5ft. Margaret's day, 
yielded to the king both town and castle; which verifies 
that 

" — .. ->in auger the Canicular Tyke, 

Tweed shall he passe, and set his foot in Wyke." 

Ti/Ve is that which the northern men call a dog, and by 
the Canicular Tyke, is meant the dog-star; Tizeedis the 
water which parted the two kingdoms of England and 
Scotland ; and by the Wi/Ice, (as is before mentioned) 
meant the town of Berwick. 1 only capitulate this one 
battle (of many) against the Scots, purposing the like 
compendiousness in his famous victories over the French. 

During the disseniion between the two kings of England 
and France, which by no mediation could be atoned, 
though there were many meetings to that purpose. The 
French king sent a strong navy to sea to take our English 
merchants, and encountered with two good ships of Eng- 
land, called the Edward and the Christopher, and after 
nine hours fight, in which were slain of both sides about 
600 men, the two ships were taken, and all the wounded 
Englishmen, alive, cast over board into the sea. After- 
wards, king Edward, in his 15th year, in the month of 
June, took shipping, and sailed / towards Flanders, where 
met him Sir Robert Morley, with the north navy of Eng- 
land, so that his fleet consisted of 300 sail, and at mid- 
summer, upon St. John's eve, he met and fought with the 
French navy, which were 400 sail, which laid in wait for 
him near unto a town called Sluce; their chief admirals 
were Sir Hugh Querret, Sir Nicholas Buchet, and Barhe 
Nore, in English black-beard. Between these two royal 
fleets, was a strong and bloody fight, which continued for 
the space of eight hours, before it could be distinguished 
which way the victory was likely to incline, yet, in the 
end, by God's mercy, and the manhood of the king, the 
French were chaced, and many of their ships burned and 
taken, amongst which were the ships of the two admirals, 
Querret and Buchet, who maugre the French w r ere hanged 
up in their own vessels, and among the rest were recovered 
the Edward and the Cristopher, manned with the French. 



174 she life or merlih, 

In this battle, the king himself, was sore wounded in the 
thigh, and of the French were slain 30,000 in that one 
naval conflict. Soon afterwards, (or as some write) a 
little time before, by the advice of his confederate princes, 
be laid claim to the crown of France, as his rightful inhe* 
ritance, and tor the more authority to countenance itj Jae 
quartered the English lions with the French flower de 
lyce, as they remain to this day ; so that we see 

14 Neptune his Navall Triumphs did advance, 

(and) 
He his Coat quarters with the Arms of France. 

I am forced to intermit many and divers conflicts and 
skirmishes, with winning of forts and castles, challenges, 
that past between the two kings, with the particular valour 
and noble gests of some of our nation, to relate which 
would ask a voluminous tractate, where my confinement is 
to a mere epitomy of chronicle, passing over all accidents, 
saving what are most remarkable, which brings me to the 
]8th year of his reign, in which at a parliament held at 
Westminster, his eldest son, Edward, was created prince 
of Wales, and he, in the year following, first instituted 
the famous and renowned Order of the Garter, which was 
solemnized at Windsor, and is continued to this day. In 
his 21st year, he landed in Normandy, and burnt and 
spoiled all the country before him, wasting the province of 
Constantine. Then he laid siege to Caan the chief city, 
and won it, and amongst others, he took there prisoners, 
the constable of France, the king's chamberlain, and all the 
spoil of the city, which was held to be inestimable, and 
sent to his ships, which was conveyed into England. 

He then entered France, and coasted towards Paris, to 
Vernon, to Poysie, to St. German, still wasting as he went. 
Then, he took and made use of all the king's royal manors 
and palaces, and drank his wine and occupied all such stuff 
and necessaries as he there found, and after his departing 
set them on fire, as St. German, Mountjoy, Pezzy, &c. 
insomuch that the French king, thinking it a great dis- 
honour, both to him and the whole nation, that the Eng- 
lish should pierce the heart of his kingdom unfought with; 
he therefore assembled all his prime chivalry, and met with 
the English (far inferior to them in number) near to a towa 



WITH HIS STRANGE PltOFHKCIBf. 17| 

•ailed Cressy, and upon the 26th of August, was fought 
between them a sharp and bloody battle, in which, at the 
end, king Edward was the triumphant victor ; where were 
•lain at that time, of the French party, the king of Bohe- 
mia, son to Henry the emperor, the seventh of that name, 
with the duke of Loraine, the earl of Alonson, brother to 
the king, Charles, earl of Bioys, the earls of Flanders, 
Sancer, Harcourt, and of Fiennes, with divers others, to 
the number of eight bishops and earls, with 17 lords of 
name, and of bannerets, knights, and esquires more than 
1,690 ; so that their own chronicles report, that the flower 
of t ranee perished in that battle; besides, of the commons 
above 8,000, and the French king, with a small company, 
sore wounded, fled to a town called Bray, and there lay the 
night following. 

Whom king Edward pursued not, being advertised of 
another great host coming towards him, and therefore he 
kept the field, and made great fires through the host, and 
so continued till the Monday following, upon which day, 
early in the morning, appeared to them a new army of 
Frenchmen, of which they slew more in number than the 
Saturday before ; and then, having given thanks to God 
for his victory, he marched towards Bulloine, and thence 
to Calais, to which he laid siege for the space of a whole 
year ; then came the French king, with a numerous army, 
to remove him, but, before his coming, it was yielded to 
king Edward, so that he departed thence sad and ashamed. 
But king Edward stayed in the town a month, and removed 
all the old inhabitants, which were French, and stored it 
with English, but, especially, Kentish men, and having 
set all things in order, he sailed with great triumph into 
England, and arrived at London the 23rd day of October, 
where he was magnificently received of the citizens, and 
so conveyed unto Westmister. 

We have hitherto spoke only of the father. It follows, 
that something should be said of the son, the unparallelled 
Edward, prince of Wales, not for his complexion, but for 
his terror in battle, surnamed the Black Prince, who, whilst 
hs father rested himself in Calais, with a puissant host enter- 
ed Gascoine, and made spoil, at his pleasure, through the 
whole country, and with great riches and many noble 
prisoners, he retired himself to Burdeaux. And though 



176 THE 1\IFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

the earls of Arraineck and of Foyz, of Poy tiers and Clcre- 
mont, with James de Burbon, with many oilier knights, 
who had double the number to the prince, were in his way, 
yet passed he from Tholous to Nerbon, and from Nerbon 
to Bordeaux, without battle ; where, having reposed him- 
self a while, and rested his army, he sent many of his 
prisoners into England, and there entered the province of 
Berray, and therein made sharp war, which 'king John, of 
France, hearing, gathered a mighty number of people, 
and made tow aids the prince, who, in the mean time, had 
passed the river of Lover, and encountered by divers of 
the nobility of France, between whom was a sharp conflict, 
but the fortune of the <\rj fell to the prince, who slew 
many of his enemies, and took divers prisoners, as the lord 
of Craou, and others of note, to the number of 54, whom 
he sent to safe custody in Bordeaux, and himself sped to 
Towres, whither, also, king John came against the prince, 
who took his way to Poytiers, where we, for a while, leave 
hi in upon his march. &c. 



«fc 



am 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTY-SECOND. 



The famous battle of Poic- 
tiers, fought by Edward, sur- 
named the Black Prince, in 
which he took John, the 
French king prisoner. — His 
other yictories in France. — 
His conquests in Spain. — The 
death of the Tictorious prince 



Edward. — King Edward -the 
third's death and epitaph.— 
Richard the second made king. 
— A prediction of his reign.— 
The insurrection of the com- 
mons — The memorable act of 
William Walworth, lord may* 
or, &c. 



WE left prince Edward on his march towards Poictiers* 
In keeping which way, a French array encoun- 
tered him, but he chaced their multitude, and besides 
many slain, took of them 40 prisoners, amongst which, 
•were the earl of Sancer, the earlof Iurigny, the lord Chas- 
terlin, master of the king's palace, ai»d a knight called 
Sir Guillam de Daneham, whom he also sent to his rendez- 
vous at Burdeaux ; and soon afterwards, he lodged him 
and his host near Poictiers, so that the fronts of both hosts 
lay within a quarter of a mile of each other; between 
"whom the cardinal of Pernigvort, sent from pope Innocent 
the sixth, laboured to make a peace, but finding his endea- 
vour frustrate, he retired himself to Poictiers, to attend the 
success of the battle, which was fought upon Monday the 
19th of September, in the year of grace 1356, and the 
sixth year of king John, the manner followeth : 

The duke of Athenes, with such of the nobility as were in 
the king's vaward, about two o'clock in the afternoon, setup- 
onthe Englishhost which was strongly munified with wood 



1*8 THE LIFE OF MERLIX, 

and trees in the manner of a barricado, so that the French 
cavalry could not approach them, but the shot of the English 
archers was so violent, that it overturned horse and man. 
And whilst the duke of Athenes, with Sir John Cleremont, 
marshal of France, and others, assaulted the prince and 
his people on one side; the duke of Normandy, king 
John's eldest son, and the duke of Orleance, the king's 
brother, set upon him on another part, which two dukes 
were leaders of two strong armies. But these three 
battles did little harm to the English, for, by reason 
of their arrows, the French were so gauled and wounded, 
|hfit they fled to the great dismay and discomfort of the 
king and the rest of his people. 

"Who then in pesson came on with Ills main host, but 
the English kept themselves whole without scattering, and 
received them on the points of their weapons, with such 
dexterity and courage, that the French were forced to 
give back ; of which the English taking advantage, routed 
their whole army. In which battle were slain, of men of 
note, the duke of Athenes, the duke of Burbon*, Sir John 
Cleremont, marshal of France, Sir Henry Camian, ban- 
neret, who bore that day the oriflambe, (a special relick 
that the French kin<rs used in all battles to have borne before 
them) the bishop of Chabous, with divers others, to the 
number of 54 bannerets, knights, and others. 

And of prisoners taken in that battle, were John, king 
of France, Philip, his fourth son, Sir Jaques of Burbon, 
earl of Poitou, and brother to the duke of Burbon, Sir 
John of Artoys, earl of Ewe, Sir Charles, his brother, 
earl of longevile, Sir Giflard, cousin german to the 
French king, Sir John, his son and heir, AVilliam, arch- 
bishop of Sence, Sir Simon Melen, brother to the earl of 
Canlarvive, and carl of Vandature. The earls of Damp- 
martin, of Vendosme, of Salisbruch, of Movson, the mar- 
shal Denham, with others, as bannerets, knights, and men 
of name, according to their own writers, 1,500 and above. 
From wftidh battle escaped Charles, eldest son of king 
John, and duke of Normandy, with the duke of Anjou, 
and few others of name. And king Edward, after due 
thanks given to the Almighty God for his triumphant 
victory, retired himselt to Burdeaux, with his royal pri- 
soners, where the king and the rest were kept till Easter 
following. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 179 

In the 31st year of the king, the 16th day of April, 
prince Edward being 28 years of age, took shipping, with 
his prisoners, at Burdeaux, and the 24th of May, was 
received with great joy by the citizens of London, and 
thence conveyed to the king's palace at Westminster, 
where the king, sitting in his estate royal, in AVesniinster 
hall, after he had indulgently entertained the prince, he 
was conveyed to his lodging, and the French king, royally 
conducted to the Savoy, where he laid long afterwards. 
And in the winter following, were royal justs held at Smith- 
field, at which were present the king of England, the 
French king, the Scotch king (then prisoners) with many 
noble persons of both the three kingdoms 5 and the most part 
of the strangers being then prisoners. 

Whilst king John remained in England, which was for 
the space of four years and odd days, the king of England, 
andjtbe Black Prince, his son, with their armies, over-run 
the greatest part of France, during the time of Charles, his 
regency over the kingdom, who was king John's eldest 
son, against whom they had many memorable victories, 
spoiling where they list, and sparing what they pleased, 
insomuch that king Edward made his own conditions before 
any peace could be granted. At length, the king was 
delivered, and royally conveyed into his country; who so 
well approved of, and liked his entertainment here, that in 
the 37th year of king Edward, he returned into England, 
and at Eltham, besides Greenwich, dined with the king, 
and in the same afternoon, was royally received by the 
citizens, and conveyed through London to the Savoy, 
which was upon the 24th of January; but, about the 
beginning of March following, a grievous sickness took 
him, of which he died the eighth of April following, 
whose body was afterwards solemnly conveyed to St. 
Denis, in Fiance, and there royally intered. 

In the 40th year of the king, one Barthran de Cluicon, a 
Norman, with an army of Frenchmen, entered the land of 
Castile, and warred upon Peter, king of that country, and 
within four months, chaced him out of his kingdom, and 
crowned Henry, his bastard brother in his stead, wherefore 
he was constrained to fly to Burdeaux, and to demand aid 
of prince Edward, who commiserating his case, as being 

z 2 



-Jt. '■ 



ISO THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

lawful king, (howsoever of a tyraneous and bloody dispo- 
sition) he granted his request, so that he assisted Peter with 
his English archers against the bastard Henry, with his 
French spearmen, whose two armies met near unto a town 
called Doming, where between thera was a long and cruel 
fight, but, in the end, the victory fell to the prince, and 
Henry, with his whole army, were routed. In which 
battle were taken Barthran de Cluicon, and Arnold Do- 
denham, marshal of France, with divers others, as well 
French, as Britons and Spaniards, and slain to the number 
of 5,000 of the enemies, and of the prince's army 1,600; 
after which he instated Peter in his kingdom, who after- 
wards perfidiously denied to pay the prince's army. 

For which, he afterwards was divinely punished, as 
also for killing his own wife, daughter to the duke of 
Burbon ; for his bastard brother, Henry, knowing how he 
was justly abandoned by the English, having gathered new 
forces, gave him battle, in which being taken, his brother 
commanded his head to be struck off, which was imme- 
diately done. After which, John of Gaunt, duke of 
Lancaster, the king's son, and Edward his brother, earl 
of Cambridge, married the two daughters of this Peter, 
late king of Castile. John espoused Constance, the elder, 
and Edward, Isabel, the younger, by which marriages the 
two brethren claimed to be inheritors to the kingdom of 
Castile, or Spain. 

In the 51st year of the king, upon the eighth of June, 
being trinity Sunday., died that renowned soldier, Edward 
the Black Prince, in the palace of Westminster, whose 
body was afterwards carried to Canterbury, and there so- 
lemnly intern d ; who in his life time was much beloved 
both of the commons and the whole kingdom, especially, for 
removing from the king's person all such as had misled 
him in his age, by which the common-weal was mueh 
oppressed. Amongst others was lord Latimer, noted for 
principal, and Alice Pierce, the king's concubine, with 
Sir Richard Skory, all which were, according to the com- 
mons' Just complant, by the prince removed. But^ he was 
no sooner dead, but the long, contrary to his promise before 
made, called them again, admitting them to their former 
offices and honours, and Alice, his prostitute, to his wonted 
grace and favour. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 181 

In the 52nd year, the 22nd of June, died, at his manors 
©f Sheen, now called Richmond, the royal and most vic- 
torious prince, king Edward, the third of that name, of 
Tyhom it was truly predicted : 

f? The spirits of many Lions shall conspire, 
To make one (by infusion so entire : 
He, by his mighty courage shall restore, 
What his sire lost and grandsire won before." 

As also that of the unparalleled Black Prince, his son, 
who died before his father : 

*« A numerous issue shall his Lionesse bring, 
Black shall the first fee, and though never King, 
Yet shall he Kings captive, but ere mature, 
Die shall his brave Whelp of a Calenture, 
And then behind him shall he leave a Kid, 
To undoe all both sire and grandsire did." . 

By the Kid is intended prince Richard, his son, who 
succeeded his grand-father in the throne, and therefore so 
called because of bis condition, so suiting with the nature 
of his predecessor, Edward the second, whom the prophet, 
for his dissoluteness of life, and inability to manage a 
state, called a Goat) not a Lion. But to come to the 
story, king Edward left behind him four sons, Lionel, 
duke of Clarence, John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, Ed- 
ward of Langley, duke of York, and Thomas of Wood- 
stock, earl of Cambridge, taking their surnames from the 
places where they had their birth ; by whom, and the rest 
of the nobility, his body was conveyed from Richmond to 
Westminster, and there solemnly and sumptuously in- 
terred, over whose tomb hung this inscription: 

Hie deens Angiorum, flos Re gum prceteritorum, 
JForma futurorum : Rex clemens, pax populorum : 
Tertius Edwardus, regni eomplens Jubilceum, 
Invictus pardus, pollens bellis Machabceum, 

Which, for the better understanding of the vulgar, I 
give you thus, paraphased in English : 

Here lyes our honour, flower of Kings for epast; 
Pattern to future making peace to last. 



182 SHE LIFE Or MERLIN, 

Edward the third, who reign d a jubilee. 
In strength a pard: valour a Machabee. 

Richard, the second of that name, and son of Edward, 
surnamed the Black Prince, eldest son to Edward the 
third, a child of the age of 11 years, began his reign over 
the realm of England, the 22nd of June, in the year of 
grace 1027, and upon the 15th of July, being the day of 
St. Swithen ensuing, he was crowned at Westminster. 
In the first year of whose reign, about April, landed in 
Kent, Anne the daughter of Charles the fourth, emperor of 
that name, late dead, and sister to Wenceslaus, then empe- 
ror, who by the mayor and citizens of London, was ho- 
nourably met upon Blackheath, and with great triumph 
conveyed to Westminster, and the eighth day of May, 
solemnly espoused to king Richard, of whom it is thus 
predicted : 

€i Sport shall the young Kid in his youth, and play 

'Gainst whom shall rise the Hedg-hog and the Gra* : 

And then the hobnayle and the clowted shoone, 

Shall the Kids glory, strive to eclipse at noone; 

Bnt by a Daulphin (of the City lov'd) 

That black disastrous cloud shall be remov'd, 

And Phoebus in his wonted orbe shine cleare, 

Who when he shall in his full strength appeare, 

Foure princely Lions were to him allyde, 

Gall shall he with his horns in his great pride. 

At length a Fox clad in a skin of gold, 

Shall snatch the Kid, from midst of all his fold." 

The year before (which was the fourth of his reign) was 
a great insurrection of the commons throughout the land, 
especially in Kent and Essex ; the reason was, because in 
the third year, at a parliament held at Westminster, there 
was granted to the king a groat of every person, male or 
female, above the age of 14 years. The chief captains 
and leaders of the rebels' army, were Jack Straw, Will- 
iam Wawe, Wat Tyler, Jack Shepherd, Tom Miller, and 
Hob Carter; these gathered great multitudes of the com- 
mons, and assembled themselves upon Blackheath, three 
miles from London, and upon the 11th of June, entered 
the tower of London, where the king was then lodged, and 
took thence by force doctor Sudbury, arch-bishop of 



WITH HI1 STRANGE PROPHECIES. 183 

Canterbury, Robert Hales, prior of St. John's, and a 
white frier, confessor to the king, whom, with a mighty 
acclamation and voice they drew to tower-hill, and there 
cut off their heads. 

Then, by boats and barges, they returned into South- 
wark, and robbed all strangers, ot what nation soever, 
thence they went to Westminster, and took thence all the 
sanctuary men, and came unto the Savoy, which was the 
duke of Lancaster's house, and first pilladge it, and after- 
wards set it on fire, and then to the palace of St. John, 
near Clerkenwell, and spoiled it. Afterwards, they search- 
ed the temples and inns of court, making havock of all, 
burning their law books, and killing as many lawyers and 
questmongers as they might find. That done, they went 
to St. Martin's le Grand, releasing all that had there took 
sanctuary, with the prisoners of Newgate, JLudgate, and 
the two counters, tearing their registers and books. The 
like they did to the king's bench and marshals in South- 
wark, and moreover, they did through the whole city of 
London, according to their own wills and pleasures. 

Wheu Jack Straw, who was prime commander above 
the rest, had executed all these insolencies, and saw no 
resistance against him, he was so suddenly tumoured with 
pride, that he thought no man worthy to be his peer, inso- 
much that he rode again to the tower, where he found the 
kingbut weakly attended, and in a manner compelled him to 
ride through diveis parts and streets of the city, and so 
conveyed him to Smithfield, where, in the king's presence 
(to whom he did small or no reverence at all) he caused a 
proclamation to be made, though using his majesty's name, 
yet to his own wicked end and purpose, which William 
Walworth, fishmonger, and then lord mayor, seeing, and 
not able to endure his so great presumption and insolency, 
he stept towards, and first, with a blow on the head, stoun- 
ded him with his mace, and afterwards, with a short 
dagger, which he wore by his side, he wounded him to 
death, then, with a sword struck off his head, and lifted it 
upon the point of a spear, and shewing it to the rebels, 
cried out aloud, King Richard, God save king Richard; who 
when they saw their chief captain slain, they fled in great 
disorder, of which many were taken, and some slain, and 
the remnant were chaced, so that both city and suburbs 



184 *HE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

were voided of them that night, being the 15th of June, 
making good what was predicted : 

,c Sport shall the youg Kid in his youth and play, 
'Gainst whom shall rise the Hedghog & the gray, 
And then the hobnail and the clowted shoon 
Shall the suns glory striye to eclipse at noon, 
But by a Daulphin (of the city lov'd) 
This black disastrous cloud shall be remord, &c. 

By the young Kid is intended the wanton king, by the 
Hedghog and the Grey y beasts frequent in the country, 
Jack Straw, Wat Tyler, and the rest of the captains and 
commons; by the Daulphin, William Walworth, who 
was free of the fishmongers, and they give the daulphin in 
their escutcheon, &c. 



•■^r^r-^r/ u<<i jij.m i ' :»m *-»W ' _ ' • ' -'"WO W 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTY-THIRD. 



The duke of Gloccster by a 
parliament reforineththe com. 
raon- wealth. '-John of Gaunt 
claims his title in Spain. — 
King Richard marrieth the 
French king's daughter. — 
Difference between the king 
andGlocester. — His murder in 



Calais. — The murmur of the 
commons against the present 
government — The pride of the 
duke's court — The dukes of 
Hereford and Norfolk banish- 
ed. — King Richard deposed, 
and Henry, duke of Hereford 
and Lancaster, made king. 



WHEN the king saw the great manhood and courage 
of the lord mayor and his brethren, the aldermen, 
his assistants, he, in his own person, knighted the said 
William Walworth, with Nicholas Uremble, John Phil- 
pot, Nicholas Twiford, Robert Laundor, and Robert Gay- 
ton, aldermen. And moreover, in memory of that noble 
act, added to the arms of the city, the bloody dagger, as it 
remaineth to this day. In the 11th year of this king, 
Thomas of Woodstock, duke of Glocester, and uncle to 
the king, the earl of Arundell, with the earls of Warwick, 
Derby, and Nottingham, taking into their consideration, 
how much the land was misgoverned, and his majesty 
misled by some sycophants near about him, they met in 
counsel at a place called Radecockbridge, and having 
assembled a strong power, came to London, and there 

A a 



186 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

caused the king to call a parliament, whereof Alexander 
iSevell, arch -bishop of York, Lionel Vere, marquiss of 
Divelin, Michael de la Poole, earl of Suffolk, and chan- 
cellor of England, hearing, and fearing the censure of that 
high court, fled the land, and died in foreign countries. 
Then, the king, by counsel of the aforesaid lords, caused 
to to be apprehended Sir Robert Tresilian, chief justice of 
England, Sir Nicholas Brembre, late mayor of the city, 
Sir John Salisbury, of the king's household, Sir John 
Beauchampe, steward of the house, Sir Simon Burleigh, 
Sir Thomas Bernes, Sir Robert Belknap, with one John 
Uske, serjeant at arms, all which, by the foresaid parlia- 
ment, were convicted of treason, and put to death, some at 
1 yburne, some at Towerhill, and all such as fled, with 
those that foresook the land, by the authority of that 
high court, banished for ever. 

In the 13th year, John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, 
with a strong army, sailed into Spain, to claim the king- 
dom, in right of lady Constance, his wife, the daughter of 
Don Peter, with whom joined the king of Portugal, with 
his forces, so that, of necessity, the king of Spain was 
forced to treat with the duke, of peace and amity. The con- 
ditions were, that the king of Spain should marry the 
duke's eldest daughter, named Constance, and moreover 
should give unto the said duke, to recompense the charges 
of his war, so many wedges of gold as should load eight 
chariots, and moreover, during the lives of the said duke 
and his wife, he should, at his proper cost and charges, 
deliver unto the duke's asignees yearly 10,060 marks of 
gold, within the town of Bayon, which conditions being 
ratified, and assurance given for the performance thereof, 
the duke departed with the king of Portugal, to whom, 
shortly afterwards, he married his second daughter, the 
lady Anne, so that the elder and the younger, were made 
the two queens of Spain and Portugal. 

King Richard's first wife being dead, afterwards he 
married Isabel, the daughter of Charles the sixth, king of 
France, who was but eight years of age, at whose espou- 
sals, in the French king's court, many rich interchangeable 
gifts passed between them, as first, the king of England, 
gave the French king a bason of gold and ewer, who 



WITH HIS STRANGE PR0PHCEIE8. 137 

returned him three standing cups of gold with covers, and 
a ship of -gold, garnished with pearl and stones At a 
second meeting, Richard gave him a curious ouch, set 
with rich stones, valued at 600 marks; then the French 
king gave him two flagons of gold, and a tablet of gold, 
set with diamonds, and in it the picture of St. Michael, a 
tablet of gold with a crucifix, another with the image of 
the trinity, and a fourth with the image of St. George, all 
of them set with stones of great splendour ; Richard then 
presented him with a belt or bauldricke, set with great 
diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, which for the riches 
thereof, the king wore upon him so often as they met 
together. Many other presents passed between them, and 
a full peace was concluded between them, for 30 years, 
and amongst other things, king Richard delivered up 
Brest, which had been long held by the English. 

The year afterwards, in the month of February, the king 
held a magnificent feast at Westminster hall, whither 
pressed divers soldiers, lately discharged from Brest, 
whose minds, when the duke of Glocester, the king's uncle, 
tmdestood, went to his majesty, and said, Sir, Do you 
take notice of yon soldiers; who asked him again what 
they were ; the duke replied, these be your subjects and 
soldiers, cashiered from Brest, who have done you good 
service, and now have no means to live upon, who have 
been ill paid, and now are worse rewarded. To whom the 
king answered, it was my will they should have been well 
paid, but if ought have failed therein, let them petition to 
our treasurer. At length, the duke said, but it savoureth 
of small discretion to deliver up a strong fort with ease, 
which was got with great difficulty by our progenitors. 
At which the king changed countenance, and said, 
Uncle, how spake you these words? which the duke, with 
great vehemency uttered again ; whereat the king being 
more moved, replied, think you 1 be a merchant, or fool, 
to sell my land? by St. John the Baptist, nay, &c. For 
these words thus uttered on both sides, great rancour was 
kindled between the king and duke, which was never 
extinguished, till by the consent of the king, his uncle 

was basely murdered. 

« 

For the duke, purposing to remove some who were po- 
tent about the king, called to him the earls of Warwick > 

a a2 



188 THE Ll*E OF MERLItfj 

of A rim del, and of Nottingham, who was marshal! of 
England; and of the clergy, the arch bishop of Canter- 
bury, with the two abbots of St. Albans and Westminster, 
and these were solemnly sworn to supplant from their autho- 
rity the duke of Lancaster, the duke ot York, with others 
prejudicial to the good of the kingdom. But Nottingham, 
contrary to his oath, revealed all to the king, who, pre- 
sently, whilst the others thought themselves secure, called 
another council, in which it was decreed, that the earls of 
Arundel and Warwick, should be censured and brought 
to the king, who in person arrested his uncle, Sir Thomas 
of Woodstock, (some say at Plashy in Essex, others at 
Greenwich) in the night time, and taking hirn in his bed, 
first sent him to the tower, and thence had him secretly- 
conveyed to Calais, where he was piteously murdered. 
Afterwards, the two earls of Arundel and Warwick were 
judged and executed. Afterwards was called a parlia- 
ment, in which divers of the nobility had more honourable 
titles conferred upon them ; and other upstarts, neither of 
birth nor quality, were advanced to office and honour; in 
which parliament, also, many true heirs were dis- inherit- 
ed, &c. 

For which the people greatly murmured against the 
king and his council, pretending that the revenues of the 
crown were wasted upon unworthy persons ; for which, 
divers exactions were put upon the commons, that the 
chief rulers about the king were of low birth, and little 
reputation, and men of honour kept out of office and 
favour; that the duke of Glocester was secretly murdered 
without process of law ; and the earls of Arundel and 
Warwick put to death, contrary to the king's own procla- 
mation, with divers others, to t lie number of 38 several 
articles, all which, at his deposing, were publickly pro- 
tested against hirn. 

Harding the chronologer reports, that king Richard was 
prodigal, ambitious, and luxurious, to whose court resorted, 
at their pleasure, 10,000 persons, pretending business there; 
that in his kitchen were S00 serviters, and in everv office to 
the tike number. Or ladies, chamberers, and landresses SCO, 
who exceeded in costly and sumptuous apparel, and far 
above their degrees. The very grooms and yeomen were 
clothed in silk, satin, and damask, scarlet, embroidery, gold 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 189 

chains and goldsmiths' work were then common ; such was 
the pride then in the court. It was also commonly voiced, 
that he had let to farm the revenues of the crown to Bushy, 
Baggot, and Green; which caused the nobility also, and 
the commons to grudge against the king and his govern- 
ment. And this year, being the 21st of his reign, died 
John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, at the bishop of Ely's 
palace in liolborne, and was buried on the north side of 
the choir in Paul's, where his tomb remaineth to this day. 

This year also fell a great difference between the two dukes 
cf Hereford (who was son to John of Gaunt) and the duke 
of Norfolk; the cause was (after some writers) that the 
two dukes riding from parliament, the duke of Norfolk 
said unto the other, Sir, you see how unstedfast the king 
is in his word, and how shamefully he putteth his kins- 
men to death, exiling some, and imprisoning others, and 
no doubt, what hath happened to them, may, in time, fall 
upon us, &c. Of which words, the duke of Hereford 
accused him to the king, which the one affirming, the 
other denying, a day of battle was appointed them at 
Coventry, upon the 11th of September, where the king 
and the greatest part of the nobility were present. Where 
both appearing in the lists, and ready for the combat, the 
king threw down his warder, and stayed the fight, and 
forthwith banished the duke of Hereford for 10 years, and 
the duke of Norfolk for ever. Upon which sentence, 
Hereford sailed into Britain ; and Norfolk, after passing 
divers countries, lastly, came to Venice, and there ended 
his life. 

In his 22nd year, the common fame ran, that he had 
farmed the realm of England, to Sir William Scroop, 
earl of Wiltshire, and treasurer, and to Sir John Bushy, 
Sir John Bagot, and Sir Henry Green. And in the month 
of April, the king, with a potent host sailed into Ireland, 
leaving for his pro-rex in England, his uncle, Edmund 
JLangley, duke of York. In which voyage, he prospered 
well, and quieted the realm to his pleasure. And whether 
it was for some noble act done, or out of his grace and 
bounty, (1 cannot say) he there knighted Henry, son to 
the duke of Hereford, (then in exile) which Henry, after 
his father's death, was crowned king of England, by the 
name of Henry the fifth. 



ISO ME LIFE OP MERLIN, 

Whilst king Richard was thus busied in Ireland, the 
duke of Hereford, late banished, with the arch-bishop of 
Canterbury, who had before left the realm, and Thomas, 
son to the earl of Arundel, lately beheaded, these, with 
others, being a small company in number, landed at 
Ravenspur, in the North, and under pretence of laying 
claim to the dukedom of Lancaster, due to him by John 
of Gaunt, his father, deceased, he raised the people as he 
went; to whom multitudes assembled, being weary with 
the misgovernment of king Richard ; who, hearing how 
the state in England then stood, made speedy return from 
Ireland, and in the begining of September, landed in 
Milford Haven, and sped him thence to Flint castle, in 
"Wales, intending thither to gather more strength to oppose 
the duke's proceedings. 

Who, in the interim, proclaiming himself duke of 
Lancaster, in the right of his father, John of Gaunt, came 
to Bristol, where, without resistance, he seized upon Sir 
William Scroop, earl of Wiltshire, and treasurer of 
England, Sir John Bushy, and Sir Henry Green, with Sir 
John Bagot, who escaped, and fled into Ireland, but the 
other three were judged and put to execution. Which the 
king (being then in Flint castle) hearing, he much doubted 
his own safety, and so did all these who were then about 
him. Therefore, Sir Thomas Percy, earl of Worcester, 
and steward of the king's household, contrary to his 
allegiance, broke his white staff openly in the hall, willing 
every one to shift for himself, by reason of which, the 
king was forsaken of all his people, and soon afterwards, 
surprised, and presented to the duke, who put him under 
safe keeping, and himself hasted towards London. 

Who, coming near to the city, sent the king secretly te 
the tower, of which some evil disposed persons ambushed 
him in the way, and would have slain him because of his 
former misgovernment, but the citizens, informed of their 
malicious purpose, rescued him from their fury. Then, 
the duke coming to London, (by consent of the king) 
a parliament was begun the ISth of September, in which 
many accusations and articles concerning his misruling 
the realm, to the number of 38, the king was charged 
With; and for whicU the king subscribing, (willing as it 



WITH HIS STRANGE PJtOPHECIK*. 191 

was then given to his own deposement, he was deprived 
from all kingly majesty, the manner of the proceedings 
therein, were too long to relate) which sentence being 

Sublished, and openly read in parliament, Henry, duke of 
iereford, and now of Lancaster, rising from the place 
where he before sat, and standing where all might behold 
him. First, making the sign of the cross upon his 
forehead, and afterwards upon his breast, (silence being 
commanded) he spake as followeth: " In the name of 
the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 1, Henry 
of Lancaster, claim the realm of England, with the crown t 
and all the appurtenances thereto belonging, as I am rightly 
descended from the right line of the blood, coming from 
that good lord king Henry the third, and through the 
right that God of his grace hath sent me, with the help of 
my kindred and friends to recover the same, which was in 
point to be undone, for default of good governance and 
justice, &c." 

Which having spoken, he sat down in his place. 
Then, every one hearing his claim, spake what he 
thought, and after some distance of time, the arch-bishop 
of Canterbury, knowing the minds of the lords, stood up, 
and asked the commons, if they would assent with the 
nobility in their election, which they thought to be 
needful, and for the good of the kingdom; to \vhich, with 
an unanimous voice, they said, yea, yea. After which, 
the arch-bishop aproaching the duke, uttered some words 
to him in private. W hich done, he arose, and taking him by 
the hand, led him to the king's seat, and placed him 
therein; afterwards made a long oration to that noble 
assembly, the effect whereof was to prove the duke's title 
to the crowa, and to justify the deposing of the king, 
verifying what was before predicted of him : 

*f Foure Princely Lions were to him allide, 
Gall shall he with his horns in his great pride. 
At length a Fox clad in skin of gold, 
Shall snatch the Kid, from midst of all his fold." 

By the four Lions, are figured his four princely uncles, 
sons to Edward the third, whom he se/erally injured, 
prefering men raised from nothing, to fce eminent above 



I9g rHE LITIS OF MERLIN, &€. 

them, both in honour and office ; and by the Fox, Henry 
of Balwark, who clothed himself with all the golden 
ornament of regal majesty, and snatched him from the 
midst of all the fold, that was, from amongst his own 
subjects and people, and afterwards, caused him to be put 
to a violent and cruel death. 



mem 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH. 

The coronation of Henry I ton.— His valour at his death, 
the fourth, with his great feast — His epitaph.— Thegreat rich- 
held in Westminster hall.— A es found in his treasury. — A 
great conspiracy intended a- J prosecution of sundry passages 

in the reign of king Henry — 



gainst him, but prevented. 
The lamentable murder of kin^ 
Richard the second, in Ponte- 



fract castle by Sir Pierce Ex- J by death. 



He prepares a journey for the 
Holy Land, but is prevented 



HENRY, the fourth of that name, and son to John of 
Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, took possession of the 
whole dominion of England, upon the last day of Septem- 
ber, in the year of grace 1399. After which, he made 
new officers clean through the kingdom, and then gave 
order for his coronation, and the eve before, he, in the 
tower, made 41 knights of the Bath, of which, three were 
his own sons, and three earls, and five lords, &c. Then, 
the morrow after, being Monday, the 13th of October, he 
was crowned at Westminster, by the arch-bishop of Can- 
terbury; after which solemnity ended, a great and sump- 
tuous feast was held in the great Hall, where the king 
being sat in the midst of the table, the arch-bishop of Can- 
terbury, with three other prelates, were placed at the right 
hand of the said table, and on the left hand the arch-bishop 
of York, with four other of the clergy. Henry, the king's 
eldest son, stood by his father, on his right hand, with a 
sword pointless; and the earl of Northumberland, new 
made lord constable, with a pointed sword on his left 
band, both swords being held upright. Before the kin^, 
Number V. 



B U 



191 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

stood, all dinner time, the dnkes of Aumerl, of Surry, and 
of Exeter, with two other earls, and the earl of Westmor- 
land, late made marshal, roved about the hall, with many 
tip staves to make room, that the officers, with more ease, 
might serve the tables. 

Of which, the chief upon the right side of the hall, was 
begun by the barons of the cinque ports; and at the table 
next the cupboard, upon the left hand, sat the lord mayor 
and the aldermen of London, which mayor being Drewe 
Barendine, goldsmith, was presented (according to the 
custom) with a cup of gold. After the second course 
came in, Sir Thomas Dimmocke, armed at all points, and 
sitting upon a good steed, rode to the high part of the hall, 
and before the king, caused a herald to make a procla- 
mation, that whosoever would affirm, king Henry was not 
lawful inheritor to the crown and kingdom of England, he 
was there ready to wage battle against him; which pro- 
clamation he caused to be made, afterwards, in three other 
parts of the hall, in French and English, with many more 
observances, at such solemnities exercised and done. 
Which feast being ended, the morrow after, being 
Tuesday, the parliament was again begun. Of this kino- 
and his reign, it was thus predicted : 

u The Foxe being earth'd according to his mind, 
In his Rids den, a Magazine shall finde, 
Yet all that treasure can his life not save, 
But rather bring him to a timelesse grave : 
Mean time shall study many a forrest beast, 
By a new -way to kill the King in jest : 
But crafty Rainold shall the plot prevent, 
And turne it all to their own detriment. , 
Wales and the north against him both shall rise, 
But he, who still was politicke and wise, 
Shal quell their rage: much trouble he'll indure, 
And after, when he thinks himseife secure, 
Hoping to wash the Kids bloud from his hand, 
Purpose a voyage to the Holy Land, 
Butfaiie: Yet in Hierusalem shall dye, 
Deluded by a doubtful! augury." 

In the former parliament were many challenges of the 
peers, one against the other, which came to none effect, 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 195 

but one thing was there confirmed, that whosoever had 
hand in the good duke of Glocester's death, should die as 
traitors. For which, divers found <nii!v. afterwards 
suffered. Moreover, sundry acts made in the time of 
Richard's reign, were disannulled and made void, and 
others held, more profitable for the kingdom's good, and 
common wealth, enacted in their stead. 

Then was king Richard removed from the tower, and 
thence conveyed to Leeds, and afterwards to the castle of 
Pontefract. There was provision made for the king to 
keep his Christmas at Windsor; in which interim, the 
dukes of Aumerl, of Surry, and of Exeter, with the earls 
of Salisbury and Giocester, with others of their affinity, 
lords, knights, and esquires, made great provision for a 
mask, to be presented before the king upon the 12th night, 
which grew near, and all things were in readiness for the 
performance thereof. But that day, in the morning, came 
secretly unto the king, the duke of Aumerl, and discover- 
ed unto him, that he, with the foresaid lords and gentle- 
men, had made a solemn conjuration to kill him in the 
said mask; thefore, advised him to provide for his 
safety. Upon which notice given, the king departed 
privately from Windsor, and came that night to London; 
upon which, the lords finding their plot to be discovered, 
they fled westward ; but the king caused speedy pursuit 
after them, so that the duke of Surry, and the earl of 
Salisbury, were taken at Chicester, Sir Thomas Blunt, Sir 
Bcnet Sally, and Thomas Wintercell, at Oxford, Sir John 
Holland, duke of Exeter, at Pitwell, in Essex, and divers 
others in several places. The noblemen were beheaded, 
the rest drawn and quartered, but all of their heads set 
upon the bridge gate at London, approving the premises : j 

*• Mean time shall study many a forrest beast, 
By anew way to kill the Foxe in jest, 
But crafty Retinoid shall the plot prevent; 
And turn it ali to their own detriment." 

The king having well considered this great conspiracy, 
and that tbey intended, by his death, to restore the impri- 
soned king to his diadem, he bethought himself that he 

b a 2 



156 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

could lire in no safety whilst the other was breathing, and 
therefore he determined of his death, and to that purpose, 
called unto him one Sir Pierce Exton, to see his will 
executed , who presently posted to Pontefract, and with 
eight more, well armed, entered the castle, and violently 
assaulted him with their polaxes and halberts in his cham- 
ber, who apprehending their purpose, and seeing his own 
present danger, most valiantly wrested one of their weapons 
from them, with which he manfully acquitted himself, and 
slew r four of the eight before he himself fell; but at the 
last he was basely wounded to death, by the hand of 
Sir Pierce Exton, whose body was afterwards laid in the 
minster at Pontefract, to the public view, that all men 
might be satisfied of his death, and was afterwards brought 
up to London, and exposed to all eyes in Paul's, least any 
man should afterwards pretend to lay any plots for hi* 
liberty. 

And now r , king Henry being in peaceable possession of 
the kingdom, thought it time to rifle his predecessor's 
coffers, in whose treasury he found, in ready coin 390,000 
pounds sterling, besides plate, jewels, and rich vessels, as 
much (if not more) in value. Besides, in his treasurer's 
hands, he found so many gold nobles, and other sums, that all 
of them put together, amounted to 700,000 pounds sterling; 
yet could not all this sum afford him a better funeral than 
in the poor friery of Langley, which, afterwards, by Henry, 
the king's son, in the first year of his reign, was removed 
thence, and with great solemnity interred amongst the 
kings, in the chapel of Westminster. All this process 
verifying the former prediction : 

H The Foxe being earth't according to his mind. 
In the Kids den, a Magazin shall find: 
Yet all that treasure can his life not save, 
But rather bring him to a timclesse grave. 

Over his tomb, in the chapel, the king caused these 
verses following to be inscribed : 

Prudens £? mandus, Ricardus jure secundus y 
Pit fatum virtus jacet hie sub mar more pielus % 
Verus s errn one fuit fyplemis ratione, 
Corpcre procerus 9 animo prudens ui Homerus. 



WITH HI» tTRANft» FltOPHlCIEt. 197 

Ecclesiamfwcit, elatos suppeditavit, 
Quemxis prostravit, regalia quiviolavit. 

Thus Englished : 

Wise and cleane Richard, second of that name, 
Conquered by fate, lyes in this Marble frame* 
True in his speech: whose reason did surpasse : 
Of feature tall, and wise as Homer was: 
1 he Church he favoured, he the proud subdude, 
Quelling all such as Majesty pursude. 

Concerning which epitaph, one of our English chrono- 
logers, seeing how it savoured more of flattery than truth, 
thus expressed himself: 

But yet, alas, though this meeter or.rime, 
Thus death embelisht this Noble Prince's fame, 
And that some Clerk which favoured him sometime 
List, by his comming, thus to enhance his name, 
Yet by his story appeareth in him much blame. 
Whefore to Princes is surest memory, 
Their lives to expresse in vertuous constancies 

In the second year of king Henry's reign, Owen Glen- 
dour, rebelled in Wales ; against whom, the king entered 
the country with a strong army, but at the king's coming, 
he fled up to the mountains, whom the king, for the endan- 
gering his host, durst not follow, but returned, without 
deeming any thing worthy of note. In the year following, 
Sir Thomas Percj, earl of Worcester, and Sir Henry 
Piercy, son and heir to the earl of Northumberland, gather- 
ed a great power, and upon the 21st of July, met with the 
king and his army, near unto Shrewsbury, between whom 
was fought a bloody and cruel battle, but at length the 
king was victor. In which fight, Thomas Percy, earl of 
Worcester was taken, and his nephew, Sir Henry, with 
many a brave northern man was slain ; and upon the king's 
part, the prince was wounded in the head, and the earl of 
Stafford, with many others slain. It was observed, that 
in this battle, father fought against son, son the father, 
brother the brother, and uncle the nephew. The 25th of 
July following, was Sir Thomas Percy beheaded at 



198 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

Shrewsbury; and in August after, the dutchess of Britain, 
landed at Falmouth, in Cornwal, and from thence convey- 
ed to Winchester, where she was solemnly espoused to 
king Henry. 

Soon afterwards, Richard Scroop, arch-bishop of York, 
with lord Mowbray, marshal of England, with others to 
them allied, made a new insurrection against the king, with 
purpose to supplant him; to whom the king gave battle 
on this side of York, where, after some loss on both sides, 
the king had the better of the day, the arch-bishop and 
the martial being both taken in the field, and soon after- 
wards beheaded. In that king's reign was the conduit 
builded in Cornwal, as it now. standeth; the market of the 
Stocks at the lower end of Cheapside, and the Guildhall of 
London, new edified, and of a small cottage, and ruinous 
and decayed house, made such a good structure, as it 
appears to this day. Moreover the famous and stately bridge 
of Rochester, with the chapel at the foot of the said bridge 
was fully perfited and finished, at the sole charge and cost of 
Sir Robert Knolls, who, in the time of Edward the third, 
had atchieved many brave and memorable victories in 
France and Britain ; who, also, re-edified the body of the 
White Friars church, in Fleetstreet, to which place he left 
many good legacies, and there lies buried ; the foundation 
of which place was first laid by lord Gray Cotner. iJut 
to carry our prediction along the premises, to prove that 
they differ not in the least circumstance. 

" Wales and the North, against him both shal rise, 
But he who still was politick and wise. 
Shall quell their rage, &c." 

We read also of divers justs and martial exercises per- 
formed in Smithfield, in the presence of the king, the 
nobility and ladies, in his sixth year. Lord Morif, a ba- 
ron of Scotland, challenged Edmund, earl of Kent, in 
which the earl bore himself so valiantly, that to him was 
given the honour of the turnament : and in the 10th year, 
came the Seneschall of Henalt, with a brave company of 
his own countrymen, and strangers, to perform the like 
martial exercises, in the same place, before the king # 
Against the Seneschal!, himself, ran the earl of Somerset 



WITH MIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 19? 

to whom was given the honour of the first day. Upon the 
second day came in a knight, Henalder, as challenger, 
against whom rose as defendant, Sit Richard Arondell, 
who, after certain courses, ran on horseback with their 
lances, they combated on foot with axes, where the Henal- 
der had the better, for he brought him on his knee. The 
third day came a third challenger, whom Sir John Corn- 
wayle encountered, and put to the worst. Upon the fourth 
day, appeared an esquire Henalder, and was met by John 
Cheyney, who, at the second course, overthrew his adver- 
sary, horse and man, for which the king instantly made 
him knight. On the fifth day came a fifth challenger* 
him one John Steward, an esquire, opposed, and came 
off with honour. Against the sixth challenger, came a 
gentleman called William Porter, who so couragiously 
demeaned himself, that there he won his knighthood. 
Against the seventh champion, appeared John Standish, 
esquire, who, for his valour there shewn, the king also 
knighted. A Gascoine also demeaned himself so well 
against another stranger, that he was also made knight. 
Upon the eighth and last day, came in two Henalders, 
challengers, against whom came two English brothers, 
who were of the garrison at Calais, between whom was so 
long and so violent a bickering, that they were command- 
ed by the king to cease combat, lest any of them, who so 
well had fought,, might, in the end, have come off with 
disgrace. Thus this challenge was finished, to the great 
honour of the king, who bountifully feasted the strangers, 
and with rich gifts sent them back into their countries. 

In the 11th year, in a parliament held at Westminster, 
the commons put up a bill unto the king, to take all the 
temporal lands out of the clergymen's possessions, the effect 
whereof was, that the temporallities disorderly wasted by 
the churchmen, which might suffice to find to the king 
15 earls, 1,500 knights, 6,200 esquires, and an 100 alms 
houses, to the relief of poor people, more than were at that 
time in the land ; and besides all those, the king might put 
yearly to his coffers, 20,000 pound ; and of this, by parti- 
culars, they made munified proof. To which bill, no 
answer was made, but that the king would take thereof 
further deliberation. 

In his 14th year, the king called a counsel at White 
Friars, in which it was concluded^ that speedy provison 



200 9UE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

should be made for the king's voyage to visit the holy 
sepulchre; but, at the feast of Christmas, whilst he was 
praying at St. Edward's shrine, to take there his leave, 
and sped him upon his journey, so grievous a sickness took 
him, that they feared he would there have expired ; where- 
fore they bore him to the abbot's palace, and brought him 
to a chamber, and laid him upon a pallat by the fire, who, 
when he came to himself, asked what place he was in, 
those that attended him, told him, that it belonged to the 
abbot of Westminster, and finding himself so extremly 
sick, he demanded if that chamber had any particular 
name, they answered that it was called Hierusalem; who 
presently replied, then, thanks be to the Father of heaven, 
who hath thus greatly admonished me of mine end ; for 
now I know that I shall die within this chamber, accord- 
ing to a prophecy long since spoke of me, which said I 
should die in Hierusalem. Which spoken, and having 
made his peace with heaven, he, in the same place, depar- 
ted this life, the 20th of March, after he had reigned 14 
years, five months, and 21 days, still upholding the former 
prediction : 

" much trouble hee'l endure, 

And after when he thinks himself secure, 
Hoping to wash the kids blood from his hand, 
* Purpose a voyage to the Holy Land: 
Butfaile: yet in Hierusalem shall die, 
Deluded by a doubtfull Augury." 

This king left behind him four sons, Henry, who was 
king after him, Thomas, duke of Clarence, John, duke of 
Bedford, and Humphrey duke of Glocester, and two 
daughters, the one queen of Denmark, the other dutchess 
of Bavaria or Barr. His body was afterwards conveyed 
by water from Westminster to Feversham, in Kent, and 
thence to Canterbury, where he was royally interred. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH* 



The coronation of Henry 
the fifth. — A prophecy of his 
reign — His victorious battle 
over the French at Agincourt. 
His second voyage intoFrance. 
— His victories by sea and 



land, — He is made heir (by the 
marriage of his wife) to the 
crown of France — His third 
voyage into France. — Thebirth 
of prince Henry. — The death 
of Henry the fifth. 



HENRY, the fifth of that name, and son to Henry the 
fourth, began his reign, the 21st of March, in the 
year of grace 1412, and on the ninth of April following, 
was crowned at Westminster. This prince, before the 
death of his father, applied himself to all irregularity, 
associating himself only with riotous and evil disposed 
persons, as gamesters, drunkards, robbers by the high- 
way, and the like. But he was no sooner admitted to the 
government of the land, but he suddenly became a new 
man, changing his dissolute life into a discreet carriage, 
his wildness to wisdom, and his sensuality into a wonder- 
ous sobriety. Who, least he should be reduced to his 
former riots, sent to all those vain fellows, with whom 
lie had been before familiar, such competent gifts as might 
maintain them in a fair and even course of life, but with this 
proviso, that not any of t: em should dare come within 10 
miles of his court, after a day by him assigned. Of whom 
and whose reign it was thus predicted : 

" Note a strange mixture in the planets seeds 
For now a Mercury } a Mars shall breed, 

CG 



s 



202 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

Who in his armes, accommodate and fit, 

Snail compassc more by warre, than he by wit 

The Caduceus to a sword shall change, 

And grim Orion seal (though it seem strange) 

Sit in Asirircfs orhe, and from her teare : 

The three leavYi flower she in her hand did bear, 

And turn it to a iawreil to adorn 

The Lions brows, whom late the Toad did scorn* 

And after many a furious victory, 

At length invested shall the Lion bee 

In a new Throne, to which his claim is faire, 

As being matcht unto the Kingdomes heire : 

Living, this ro) all beast shall lose no time, 

But be at last from earth snatcht in his prime." 

Presently after his coronation, he caused the corpse cf 
king Richard to be removed from the Friars at Langley, 
and solemnly interred upon the south side of St. Edward's 
shrine, in Westminster, by the body of queen Anne, his 
wife. In the second year of his reign, he held his parlia- 
ment at Leicester, where, amongst other things, the com- 
mons put up their former bill, against the clergy, who 
kept so much of the temporalities in their hands." In fear 
whereof, least the king should give unto it any comfortable 
audience, certain bishops, and others of the clergy, put 
the kin^- in mind to claim his right in France, for which 
they offered him great and notable sums, by reason v, here- 
of, that bill was again put by, and the prince listening 
to the motion of the prelates, aimed only to set forward his 
expedition against France, and sent his letters to the 
French king to that purpose, who returned him answer, 
full of derision and scorn, wherefore he made speedy 
provision for war. 

And in his third year, he rode (honourably accompanied) 
through London, and thence to Southampton, where he 
had appointed his army to meet him. There, Richard, 
earl of Cambridge, Sir Richard Scroop, then treasurer of 
England, and Sir Thomas Grey, were arrested of treason, 
arraigned, and on the 29th of July following were beheaded. 
The morrow after, the king took the sea, and on the 16th of 
August landed in Normandy, and laid siege to Harflew, 
and won it. Then, leaving: Sir Thomas Bewford his noble 
captain there, he sped from Calais: and the Dolphin, who 
had then the ruling' government of France, (by reason of the 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 203 

■ 

kind's great sickness) broke the bridges, to hinder the 
king's passage oyer the river Sanne; therefore he was 
constrained to take the way towards Picardy, and to pass 
the river Pericon. Whereof, the French being aw ire, 
assembled their forces, and lodged near to Agincourt, 
Rolandcourt, and Blangie. 

When king Henry saw that he was thus environed with 
his enemies, he pitched his battle between Agincourt and 
Blangie; having no more than 7,000 able men. Bot in 
those days, the yeomen had their limbs at liberty, their 
breeches fastened with one point, and their jacks or coals 
of mail, long and easy to shoot in, drawing bows of great 
strength, and shooting arrows of a yard long besides the 
-head. King Henry, then considering the number of the 
enemies, and that the French stood much upon their horse, 
charged every archer to take a sharp stake, and pitch it 
adnpe before him, that when the cavalry, with their spears 
assaulted them, they should give back, and so the horse 
should foil themselves upon the stakes, and then to power 
their shot upon them. And when the king had thus 
providently ordered for the battle over night, the morrow 
after, being the 25th of October, and the day of Crispin and 
Crispianus, he attended the approach of the enemy, who 
were in number 40,000 able fighting men. 

Who, about nine o'clock in the morning, with great pride 
and scorn set upon the English, thinking to have over-rid 
them with their horse, and trod them under foot, but the 
archers, as they were before appointed, retired themselves 
within their stakes, upon which the French horses were 
galled, which the English archers perceiving, and that 
their horses being gored with the stakes, tumbled one upon 
another, so that they which were foremost, were the con- 
cision of them which followed. The archers, after their 
arrows were spent, fell upon them with swords and axes, 
so that the day fell, with little loss, to the English, of 
whom were slain that day the duke of York, who had 
the leading of the van, and the duke of Suffolk, and not 
above 26 persons more. 

But of the French were killed that day morethan 10,000 
common soldiers, and of the nobility, the three dukes of 
Bar, of Alonson, and of BraJrin, eight earls, and of barons 

c c 2 



§04 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

above 80, "with gentlemen in coat armours, to the number 
of 3,000. Besides, in that fight were taken prisoners, the 
duke of Orleans, the duke ot Burbon, the earls of Ven- 
dosme, of Ewe, of Richraont, and Bursigant, then marshal 
oi France, with knights and esquires (besides common 
men) surmounting the number of 2,400. When king 
Henry, had (by God's help) obtained this glorious vic- 
tory, and recalled his people from pursuit of the enemy, 
news was brought of a new host coming towards him, 
wherefore he commanded his soldiers to be embattled, 
and then made proclamation through his army, that every 
man should kill his prisoner, which made the duke of Or- 
leans, and the rest of the French nobility in such fear, that 
they (by authority of the king) sent to the host to withdraw, 
so that the king, with his prisoners, the morrow following, 
took their way towards Calais; where, for a time, he rested 
himself and his army. Thus it was truly prophesied of him: 

* 5 Note a strange mixture in the. planets seed, 
F o r n o w a Me re u ry a Ma rs shall breed, 
Who in his armes accommodate and lit, 
Shall com passe more by warre than he by wit." 

The exposition is plain, By Mercury is meant the 
father, who was politic and ingenious; and by Mdrs\ the 
son, who, by his military prowess, achieved more than the 
other apprehended. But it followeth, the 23rd of Novem- 
ber, he was met upon Blackheath, by the lord mayor and 
his brethren, who conducted him through the city, (where 
were presented many pageants and shows, to gratulate his 
famous victory ) to Westminster, whither, the same hour, 
came Sigismond the emperor, who lodged him in his own 
palace, and a tier wands wfis St. George's feast kept at 
Windsor ; in the time of which solemnitv, during the time 
ot divine service, the king kept the estate, but in the 
sitting at the feast, he gave it to the emperor, where he, 
the duke of Holland, and a great Almane prince, called 
the duke of Briga, were made knights of the garter, and 
after seven weeks abode here, left the land, whom the king 
in person conducted to Calais. In which time of his being 
there, the duke of Bedford, with the earl of March, and 
other lords, had a great sea-fight, with divers caricks of 
(aferipwaj) and oilier ships; where, after a long and cruel 



4 

I 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 205 

fight, the honour fell to the English, to the great loss of 
the strangers, both of their men and ships, in which, three 
of their caricks were taken. 

* 

In his first year, in a parliament called at Westminster, 
wherein order was taken for provision, for his second hos- 
tile expedition into France. Richard, son and heir to the 
earl of Cambridge, (put to death at Southampton) was 
created duke of York, who afterwards was married to 
Cecile, daughter to the ear! of Westmorland, by whom he 
had issue Henry, who died young; Edward, who was 
afterwards fcing; Edmund, earl of Rutland; Anne, dutchess 
of Exeter; Elizabeth, dutchess of Suffolk; George, duke of 
Clarence; Richard Crook-back, duke of Glocester, and 
afterwards king; and Margaret, dutchess of Burgoin. 
And when all things were accommodated for the kind's 
voyage, he made John, duke of Bedford, his brother, 
protector of the land, and about Whitsunday, took ship- 
ping at Southampton, and sailed towards Normandy, 
where he laid siege to a place called Toke, or Towke. 

During which, notice was given to the king, that the 
viscount INarbon, general of the French navy, intended to 
invade England. To prevent whom, he sent the earl of 
March, the earl of Huntington, with others, to scour the 
seas, who meeting with their fleet, after a long and bloody 
conflict, conquered and overcame them upon the ninth of 
August, in which they took plenty of treasure, being the 
money which should have paid the French king's s >ldiers. 
Then was Tooke with the castle delivered up to king 
Henry, which lie gave to his brother, the duke of Cla- 
rence, with ail the signiory thereto belonging; heafterwards 
took the strong city of Caen in Normandy, with 14 other 
strong holds and castles. And whilst he was thus busied, 
the earl of March, the earl of Warwick, with others, won 
Laveers, Falois, Newlin, Cherburg, Argentine, and 
Rayons, &c. where the king kept St. George's feast, and 
made 15 knights of the Bath. 

Then king Henry divided his people into three parts, 
whereof, one he reserved to himself, the second he com- 
mitted to the duke of Clarence, the third to the earl of 
AVarwick, which duke and earl so well employed their 
forces, that in a short time they won many strong towns and 



\ 

( 



£06 THE LIFE OF MERL1V, 

castles, whilst the king laid siege to Rouen, of whichone Sir 
Guy de Boucier was captain, which was also delivered 
up into his hands, so that having subdued all Normandy, 
he then entered France, and conquered the cities and towns 
as he marched, and upon the 20th of May, came to Troies 
in Champaign, where he was honourably received ; for the 
duke of Burgoin, being slain in the presence of the Dol- 
phin, Phillip, his son, who succeeded in the dukedom, 
refused the Dolphin's part, and leagueing himself with king 
Henry; delivered unto him the possession both of the 
French king, and Dame Catherine, his sole daughter. 

Then was such an unity laboured by the lords on both 
sides, to be had betwixt the two nations, that by the 
urgence of the said Philip, duke of Burgoin, king Henry, 
at Troies, in Champaign, was solemnly married to Kathe- 
rine, heir to the kingdom of France, upon the third day of 
June, being Irinity Sunday. Before the solemnization of 
which marriage, certain articles were agreed upon by the 
two kings, the effect whereof followeth: That Charles 
should remain king during the term of his life, and king 
Henry should be made regent and governor of the king* 
dom, in the ri^ht of his queen and wife; and that after 
the death of Charles, the crown or France, with all the 
rights thereto belonging, to remain to king Henry, and his 
heirs, kings, &c. And because Charles was then visited 
with sickness, king Henry, as regent, should have the 
whole and entire government of the realm ; and that the 
lords of France, as well spiritual as temporal, should make 
oath to king Henry, to be obedient unto him in all things, 
and after the death of Charles, to become his true liege* 
men and subjects, &c. 

Further, the dutchy of Normandy, and all other lord- 
ships thereto belonging, to be as one monarchy under 
the crown of France; and that during the life of Char- 
les, Henry should not name or write himself king of 
France, but Charles in all his writings should name king 
Henry his dearest son, and immediate heir to the crown. 
And that by the advice of both councils of the realms of 
England and France, such ordinances should be establish- 
ed, that when the crown of France fell to king Henry or 
his heirs, that it might with such unity join the realm of 
England, that our king might rule both the realms as one 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 207 

monarchy, &c. that king Charles, nor Philip, duke of 
Burgoin, should make any peace with the Dolphin of 
Vien, without the consent of king Henry, nor he make 
any accord with him, without the agreement of Charles 
and Philip, &c. thus you see : 

66 His Caducceus to a Sword did change, 

And grim Orion, though it might seem strange, 

Sit in Astrceas Orbe, and from her teare 

The three leav'd Flower she in her hand did beare. 

And turn it to a Lawrell to adorne 

The Lions brows, whom late the Toad did scorn." 

By the Caducceus turning into a sword, is meant that 
Mercury was now turned Mars, and peace into war. The 
same is allegorieally intended by Orion, who is called 
Lucifer, for the terribleness of his aspect, said by the 
astronomical poets to bear a sword. He removeth Astrced, 
that is Justice, out of her orbe, for in the time of war, 
force and might sway all, who rends from her bosom the 
peaceable three leaved flpwer, which is the flower delyce, 
with which he crowns the Lion, king Henry, whom the 
Toad did scorn, (thus demonstrated.) Some write that the 
arms of France, were at first the three toads, which after- 
wards they changed to the three lilies, as they are now 
quartered with the English arms, &c. But to continue 
with the history, these former articles, baing by consent of 
both the princes and their peers ratified, king Henry, with 
his new queen were honourably received into Paris, where, 
when they had rested a season, he, with the duke of 
Burgoin, laid siege to divers towns, which held with 
the Dolphin of Vien, as the strong city of Meldane, or 
Melian, to Melden, and others, and took them. And hav- 
ing done all his pleasure in France, he and the queen, took 
leave of Charles, the French king, and sailed into Eng- 
land, and at Westminster, with great solemnity, she was 
crowned. 

In the beginning of his 10th year, was born at Windsor, 
the sixth day of December, Henry, the sixth of that name. 
At Easter afterwards, the queen took shipping at South- 
ampton, and sailed into France, where she was royally 
received of her father and mother. And king Henry being 





§08 THE LIFE 0¥ MERLIN, &C. 

still busied in his wars of France, and still gaining from 
them cities and towns, on the ninth of August, he fell 
grieviously sick, at -Boys, in Vincent, and died the last 
day of the month, when he had reigned nine years, five 
months, and 10 days, leaving no issue behind him, only 
Henrjr, aged eight months and odd days. Then the king's 
body was embalmed, and afterwards brought to West- 
minster, and there buried, verifying : 

* Thus after many a famous victory, 
At length invested shall the Lion be 
In a new throne; to which his claime is faire, 
As being matcht unto thekingdomes heir. 
Living this royall beast shall lose no time, 
But bee at length from earth snatcht in his prime*'* 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTV-SIXTH. 



The duke of Glocester made 
protector. — The duke of Bed 
ford regent of France. — Of 
Joan of Arc— Henry the sixth 
crowned in Paris. — A. prophe- 
cy of his reign. — The death of 
the duke of Glocester. — The 
death of the marquis of Suf- 



folk. — The insurrection of the 
commons under Jack Cade — 
His proceedings and death. — 
The duKe of Somerset gives 
up Normandy. — The duke of 
York taketh arms, his person 
seized against the king's pro- 
mise, and for fear set at liberty. 



HENRY, the sixth of that name, and sole son of 
Henry the fifth, and queen Katherine, began his 
reign over the realm of England, the first day of Septem- 
ber, in the year of grace 1422, who, during his minority, 
was committed to the guardianship of his two uncles, the 
dukes of Glocester and Bedford; the duke of Glocester 
being protector of England, and the duke of Bedford re- 
gent of France. In the first year of this king's reign, died 
Charles the seventh, king of France, by whose death, the 
crown and the realm, with the rights of them, fell to the 
young king, Henry; the possession ©f which, was by the 
lords of France, in general, (excepting some few, who took 
part with the Dolphin) delivered to the duke of Bedford, 
as regent, during the nonage of the king, who, in the 
the second year of his reign, won from the Dolphin more 

JD D 



210 THE LIFE OF MERLI2C, 

than 24 strong holds and castles, to the great honour of the 
English nation, and with whom all attempts succeeded 
prosperously and victoriously till the fifth year, that the 
earl of Salisbury, (who was called the good earl) with the 
earl of Suffolk, the lord Talbot, and others, laying strong 
siege to the city of Orleance, the earl was slain by a shot 
from the town ; after whose death, the English still lost 
rather than won, so that by little and little, they were 
compelled from all their possession in France, for where 
they prevailed in any battle, in three they were discom- 
fitted. 

In the eighth year of his reign, and upon the ninth of 
his age, king Henry was crowned in St. Peter's church at 
Westminster, where were made 36 knights of the Bath. 
His coronation, with all honour and joy being finished, 
provision was made for his journey into France, and upon 
St. George's day following, being the 23rd of April, he 
took shipping, and landed at Calais, with a great train of 
the English nobility. During whose abode there, many 
battles were fought in divers parts of the kingdom, between 
the English and French, in which, the French, for the 
most part prevailed, some said, by the help of a woman, 
called Joan of Arc, whom they stiled, The maiden of God, 
who was victorious in many conflicts, and, at length, came 
to a town called Compeine, with intention to remove the 
siege laid unto it by the duke of Burgoin, and the English, 
but, by the valour of a Burgonian knight, called Sir John 
Luxemburg!], her company was distressed, and she took 
alive, and afterwards carried to Roan, and there kept a 
season, because she feigned herself with child, but the 
contrary being found, she was adjudged to death, and her 
body burnt to ashes. 

In his IGth year, and upon the seventh of December, king 
Henry VI. was crowned king of France, in Paris, by the 
cardinal of Winchester. At whose coronation were present 
the regent, the duke of Burgoin, with others of theJFrench 
nobility. After the solemnity of which royal feast ended, 
ihe king left Paris, and kept his Christmas at Roan, and 
thence returned into England, where he was joyfully re- 
ceived. And of whom it was thus predicted : 

6i How comes the Sun to rise where he should set? 
Or how Lambs Lions, Lions Lambs beget? 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 211 

Yet so't must be. The Lambe though doubly crown'd, 

And thinking his large empire hath no bound, 

Yet shall a Daulphin at a low ebbe land, 

And snatch one powerful scepter from his hand. 

Thus it falls out twixt father and the sonne. 

Windsore shall lose, what ever Monmouth wonne, 

A Tigresse then, in title only proud, 

In the Lambs bosome seeks herself to shroud, 

A seeming Saint: at firt meek and devout, 

But in small time her fiercenesse will break out, 

Nor can her ravenous fury be withstood, 

Until], through satrd, with best English blood, 

But a young Lion he at length shall tame, 

And send her empty back from whence she came. 

Much troubleshall be made about the crown, 

And Kings soon raised, and as soone put downe, &c." 

After sundry conflicts between the English and the 
French, in which they diversly sped, at length, Charles, the 
Dolphin, who took upon him to be king of France, by the 
proffer of many towns, castles, cities, provinces, and 
lordships, so wrought upon the duke of Burgoin, that, 
notwithstanding he had before slain his father, adhered 
to his party, and proclaimed himself utter enemy to the 
English, which was in the 13th of Henry, In which 
year, died the noble and valorous John, duke of Bed- 
ford, and regent of France, and was buried with great 
solemnity at Roan, in the church of our lady. After 
whose death, notwithstanding the incomparable valour of 
.Lord Talbot, whose name was so terrible in France, that 
{with it women frighted their children, to still and quiet 
them) the earl of Arundel and others, yet fortune, for the 
most part, was averse to the English, &c. And, though 
there were many treaties of peace to be made between the 
two kingdoms, yet they came to no effect, and thus for 
divers years it continued. 

During which passages, divers murmurs and grud^ings 
began to break out between the duke of Glocester, lord 
protector, and uncle to the kin^, and divers persons near 
about the court, amongst whom was chief the earl of 
Suffolk, which, in the end, was the confusion of them both. 
For, in the 21st year, the said earl of Suffolk, who had 

dd2 



g!2 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

broke off a marriage concluded by the English ambassa- 
dors, between king Henry, and the daughter to the earl of 
Arminacke, went over into France, and made a match 
between him and the king's daughter of Hierusalem and 
Cicily, who had the bare titles thereof, and was indeed a 
king without a country. To compass which marriage, he 
delivered (o the said king, the dutchy of Anjou,and earldom 
of Main, which were called the keys of Normandy, to the 
great prejudice and dishonour of the English nation. For 
which set vice done, he was created marquis of Suffolk; and 
s o.i afterwards, with his wife and others, pompously accom- 
modated^ brought her into England, where she was es- 
poused to the king, at a place called Southwiek, in 
Hampshire; whence, afterwards* she was conveyed to 
London, an:? thence to Westminster, and there, upon the 
SOih of May, being Trinity Sunday, solemnly crowned. 

With which match, itseems, God was not well pleased; for 
aft' r ha! day, fortune began to forsake the king, who lost 
his friends in England, and his revenues in France, for 
soon afterwards, the whole state was swayed by the queen 
and her counsel, to the dishonour of the king, the realm's 
detriment, and her own disgrace, for thereby fell the loss 
of Normandy, the division of the lords, _ the rebellion 
of the commons, the king deposed, her son slain, and she 
banished the land for ever; all which miseries fell (as some 
have conjectured) (or the breach of that lawful contract, 
first made between the king and the daughter to the earl of 
Armma^ke. 

In his 25th year, was a parliament called at St. Ed- 
mnndsbury, in Suffolk, which was no sooner begun, and 
the lords assembled, but Humphrey, duke of Glocester, 
■was arrfcsted by viscount Ueumond, thru high constable of 
En^tetftd, the dttke ot Buckingham, and others, and the 
sixfh day afterwards, found dead (some say murdered) in 
his bed. Of whose -eath, the marquis of Suffolk was 
most s specfed. Whose body, after it was publickly 
sh* wn, was conveyed to St. Albans, and there honourably 
in* rred, ami soon afterwards five of the principal of his 
household hanged, but by the king's mercy not quartered. 

In I s ?fcth year, was called another parliament, in 
Tvhich ihe marquis 01 Suffolk was arrested and sent to the 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 213 

tower, where he lived a month at his pleasure, and was 
afterwards set at large, to the discontent of some lords, 
but all the commons ; for he was charged with the delive- 
ry of Amiens and Maine, and the murder of duke Hum- 
phrey, called the good duke of Glocester. Upon which, 
ensued a rebellion of the commons, of which, one Blew- 
beard called himself captain, but they were soon suppresed, 
and the chief of theni put to death. The parliament was 
then adjourned to Leicester, whither cametheking, and'with 
him the queen's great favourite, the duke of Suffolk. Then 
the commons made a petition to the king, that all such as 
had hahcl in the delivery of Anjou and Maine, and the 
death of the protector, might be severely punished. "Of which 
they accused as guilty, the marquis of Suffolk, the lord 
Say, the bishop of Salisbury, one Damial, a gentleman, 
and one Trivillian, with others, to appease whom, 
Suffolk was exiled for five years,' and the lord Say, 
treasurer of England, with the rest, were put apart for a 
while, and promised that they should be imprisoned. 
And Suffolk, taking shipping in Norfolk to have sailed 
into France, was met by a ship of war, callad the Nicho- 
las of the tower, and being known by the captain, he took 
him into his own vessel, and brought him back to the port 
of Dover, where, on the side of the boat, he caused his 
head to be struck off, and cast it with the body on the 
sands, and so went again to sea. 

In this year, also, being the jubilee, the commons of 
Kent assembled themselves in great multitudes, under a 
captain called Jack Cade, who named himself Mortimer, 
and cousin to the duke of York. Against him the king 
raised a strong host, aud sent Sir Humphrey Stafford, and 
William, his brother, with certain forces, to subdue them, 
but the rebels prevailed against them, and left the two 
noble brothers dead in the field. After which victory, the 
captain put upon him knight's apparel, with briganders 
set with gilt nails, and helmet, with gilt spurs. To whom 
was sent the archbishop of Canterbury, and the duke of 
Buckingham, who had conference with him, and found 
him very discreet in his answers, but not to be won to lay 
by his arms, and to blind the eyes of the people the more, 
he used great justice in his camp ; at length, he came to 
Southwark, (at which time the commons of Essex, lay 
with an army at Mile-end) and when he aproached the 



214 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

draw-bridge, he hewed the ropes and chains asunder with his 
sword , and so entered London 3 where he made proclamations 
in the king's name, that no man, on pain of death, should 
rob, spoil, or take from any man, but to pay for whatso- 
ever he called for, which drew unto him the hearts of 
many of the citizens ; and when he came to London stone, 
he struck upon it with his sword, and said, Now is Mor- 
timer lord of this city. Afterwards, he caused lord Say 
to be fetched from the tower, and without any just pro- 
cess, at the standard in Cheap, commanded his head to be 
cut off, and another called Cromer, who had been high 
sheriff of Kent, he also commanded to be beheaded, then 
pitched their heads upon two poles, and as they passed the 
streets in divers places, caused the poles to join, so that the 
dead mouths kissed each other. 

Thus he had free recourse into the city by day, and at 
night returned to lodge with his host in Southwark, but at 
length his malicious purpose broke out, for, dining one 
day with Phillip Malpas, draper and alderman, he robbed 
and spoiled his house, and took from thence a great quantity 
of plate or money, which hacThe not done, it was supposed, 
he might have attained his own ends, (for so he served 
another in the same kind) therefore the mayor, his bre- 
thren, and commons, consulted amongst themselves, (having 
the assistance of the tower) the next day to shuttheir gates a- 
gainst him, and keep him out of the city, which they did. 
Then the captain assaulted the bridge, which was valiantly 
defended, and many slain on both sides, but, at length, they 
were enforced to keep still in Southwark, whither the 
arch-bishob of Canterbury, sent a general pardon from the 
king, so they would disband themselves; of whicht he mul- 
titude took the advantage, every one sped himself home to 
his country. Then proclamation was made, that he who 
could take the captain alive or dead, should have 1,000 
marks. At length, a gentleman of Kent, called Alexander 
lden, found him in a garden in Sussex, and in taking, 
slew him, whose body was brought through the high 
streets of the city, to Newgate, there headed and quarter- 
ed, his head set upon the bridge, and the quarters sent to 
four sundry towns in Kent, to the terror of like offenders. 

In the 29th year, by reason of the duke of Somerset's 
giving up the dukedom of Normandy, displeasure grew 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. gl5 

from some of the lords against the queen and her council, 
so that the duke of York, father to king Edward the 
fourth, with many lords to him allied, opposed them- 
selves against her, and in the 30th year, the king, with 
the duke of Somerset, and other nobles, journeyed towards 
the marches of Wales, because they were informed, that 
the duke of York, with divers of the barons, both of note 
and name, had gathered a great strength. Who hearing 
the king made towards them, swarved from the king's 
host, and took their way towards London ; but when they 
knew they could not be received there, they passed over 
Kingston bridge, so into Kent, and pitched their field on 
Urentheath. Of which the king being informed, followed 
them, and pitched his field on Blackheath. 

Both their hosts being thus embattled, mediation of 
peace was made between the two hosts ; and to the duke 
were sent the bishops of Winchester and Ely, with the 
earls of Salisbury and Warwick, who answered them, that 
neither he, nor any of his company, intended any hurt to 
the king's person, or any of his own council; but his 
purpose was to remove some evil disposed persons about 
the queen, by whom the land was oppressed, and the 
commons impoverished, of whom it was finally agreed, 
that he should be committed to prison, and to answer what 
the duke of York should object against him. Upon 
which promise made by the king, the duke, the first of 
March, being Tuesday, disbanded his army, and came to 
the king's tent, where, contrary to the promise made, he 
found the duke of Somerset waiting next the king, and the 
duke of York was sent (like a prisoner) to London, and 
now streightly had been kept, but that news was brought, 
that Sir Edward, his son, earl of March, was coming 
thither with a strong power of Welshmen and Marchrnen, 
which so affrighted the queen and her council, that the 
duke was set at liberty, to go whither it pleased him, and 
so peace for a while, with feigned love was dissembled. 
Thus hitherto the prediction hath not failed in any parti- 
cular, which saith : 

*'■ The Lambe though doubly crown'd, 

And thinking his large Empire hath no bound. 
Yet shall a Daulphin at a lobbe land, 
And snatch one powerful seepter from his hand. 



216 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

Thus it falls out twixt father and the sonne. 
Windsor e shall lose, what ever Monmouth wonne." 

Henry, for his meekness, was compared to a Lamb, 
being doubly crowned, in London and Paris. The 
Dolphin of V^en, being at the lowest ebb of state, yet, 
in time, by the perfidionsness of the duke of Burgoin, 
afterwards recovered the whole realm of France, with the 
dukedom of Normandy, so that he snatched one sceptre 
from his hand. So that Henry the sixth, born in Wind- 
sor, no way participating 1 the noble and heroic spirst of his 
father, lost all by his pusillanimity, that Henry, the first 
born in Monmouth, had achieved, by his unmatchable 
prowess. 



• 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENTH* 



The ambition of queen 
Margaret.— The battle at St. 
Albans. — York made protect- 
or. — The queen's practice a : 
gainst the lords. — The battle 
of Northampton. — York pro™ 
claimed heir to the crown. — 
York slain in the battle at 



Wakefield. — Henry deposed, 
and Edward, earl of March , 
made king.^-A prophecy of his 
reign* — The battle at Hexham. 
— King Henry taken and sent 
to the tower. — The marriage of 
Edward. — He flies the land. 
— Henry again made king. 



PROCEED with the history. In his 31st year, the 
king held a solemn feast at Westminster, upon the 
12th day in Christmas, where he created two earls, who 
were his brothers by the mother's side. Queen Katherine, 
who, after the death of Henry the fifth, was married to a 
knight of Wales, called Owen, who had by her two sons, 
the eldest, named Edmund, who was made earl of Rich- 
mond, the youngest, Jasper, earl of Pembroke, who 
was afterwards, by Henry the seventh, made duke of Bed- 
ford, and so died. And in the 32nd year, the 13th of 
October, queen Margaret was delivered, at Westminster, 
of a princely son, named Edward, who, afterwards, grew 
to be of fair personage and great hope, but was afterwards 
slain by Edward the fourth, when he had won the battle 
fought at Tewksbury ; whom the people, for the great 
hate they bore to bis mother, would not acknowledge to 
be the natural son of king Henry, but rather a bastard or 
changling, to her great sorrow and dishonour. 

During these passages, great dissention grew between 
the king and divers of his lords, but especially between 
the queen's council and the duke of York." And his 
bloody and main cause was, because the duke of Somerset 

E E 



218 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

(now her prime favourite) lived at large, was made cap- 
tain of Calais, and was in greater power about the queen 
than before, for the queen governed all, and the king was 
only so in name, but no more than a cypher to fill up a 
number, for which both the nobles and commons much 
grudged. At length, the duke of York being in the 
marches of Wales, called to him the earls of Warwick 
and Salisbury, with other knights and gentlemen ; and in 
the month of April, gathered a strong host, and marched 
towards London, where the king, queen, and sundry of the 
nobility, then made their residence ; who hearing thereof, 
assembled also a sufficient army, and sped towards St. 
Albans, of *Vhich the duke of York being advertised, 
he also made thither, and was at one end of the town, 
whilst the king and his people were at the other, and this 
was on the 25rd of May, the Thursday before Whitsun- 
day. JNow, whilst a treaty of peace was communed upon 
the one gait, the earl of Warwick, with the Marchmen, 
entered the town upon the other end, and fought eagerly 
against the king's people, so that both the battles joined, 
and continued the fight for many hours, but, in the end, 
the victory fell to the duke of York; and of the king's 
side, were slain, the duke of Somerset, the earl of North- 
umberland, and lord Clifford, with many honourable 
knights and gentlemen. 

The morrow after, the duke with great honour and re- 
verence conveyed the king back to London, and lodged 
him in the bishop's palace, then called a parliament at 
Westminster, by authority whereof, the duke of York 
was made protector of the realm, the earl of Salisbury, 
chancellor, and the earl of Warwick, captain of Calais, 
and all such as were in authority about the king removed, 
and the queen and her council, who before swayed all, 
vilified and set at nought; but she, out of her great policy 
insinuated with divers lords, who were of her faction, and 
disdaining the rule the duke bore in the realm, by the 
name of protector, as if the king was insufficient to govern 
the state, which, as she thought, was a great dishonour to 
him, and disparagement to her. She made such friends of 
the lords, both spiritual and temporal, that the duke was 
sliortly discharged of his protectorship, and the earl of 
Salisbury of his chancellorship; which was the cause of 
much combustion afterwards. So that it appears : 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 219 

" ATigresse then, in title onely proud, 
In the Lambes bosom seeks herself to shroud; 
A seeming Saint, at first meek and devout. 
But in small time, her fiercenesse will break out: 
Nor can her rav'nous fury be withstood, 
s Untill through sated with best English blood, " 

Which will manifestly appear in the sequel, for she 
causing the king to remove from London to Coventry, the 
duke of York was sent for thither by a privy seal, with the 
earls of Warwick and Salisbury, whose lives were am- 
bushed in the way; of which they having notice, escaped 
the danger. Afterwards, a day of meeting was appointed 
at London, whither the lords came, with great trains 
at their heels ; and the earl of Warwick, with a strong 
band of men from Calais, in red jackets, and white ragged 
sleeves upon them. But, by reason of the strength the 
lords had, nothing was attempted against them, but a 
dissembled peace was made between the two factions; 
which being tied with a small and slender thread, it 
happened that in a private quarrel, a servant to the earl of 
Warwick, hurt one of the king's servants, upon which the 
earl coming from the council to take his barge, the king's 
family rudely set upon him, and the blackguard assaulted 
him with their spits, where divers of his followers were sore 
hurt, and he himself dangerously wounded, with great 
difficulty escaped, but got to London, and from thence 
sailed to Calais. He thus secured, the queen then aimed 
at the life of his father, the earl of Salisbury, who set upon 
him lord Audley, with a strong company, to way-lay 
him in his coming towards the city; who mending his 
train, kept on his journey, and upon Bloreheath, they 
met both, and after a bloody conflict, lord Audley, with 
many of his followers were slain, and two of the earl's 
sons wounded, who, in their way home, were surprised 
by some of the queen's faction, and sent prisoners to Ches- 
ter. 

Upon which, the duke with the lords assembled them- 
selves for their own security, and the earl of Warwick 
came with a band of men from Calais, of which he made 
one Andrew Trollop, captain ; against whom the king 
gathered a strong host, and came to Ludlow, where the 

e e 2 



220 *HE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

lords were encamped ; but, the night before the battle, this 
Andrew, with his Calais soldiers, left the lords, and joined 
■with the king's army. At which, the lords were much 
discouraged, because he was privy to all their purposes, 
wherefore they left their tents standing, and fled. The 
duke of York took shipping for Ireland, the rest escaped 
into Guernsey, by the means of one John Dinham, an 
esquire, who brought them a ship; which Dinham was 
afterwards made treasurer of England, so that the king w r as 
made master of the field, the dutchess of York with her chil- 
dren 4aken prisoners in Ludlow, and sent to her sister, the 
dutchess of Buckingham, where she remained long after- 
wards; and the lords proclaimed traitors, and their goods 
and lands forfeited, and seized into the king's hand; but, 
at length, the tide turned. 

For the lords (being favoured by the commons, who 
much murmured at the proceedings of the queen and her 
council) again entered the land, and upon the ninth of 
July encountered the king's host at Northampton, where, 
after a long fight, the victory fell to the earl of Salisbury, 
and the lords of his party, where the king's host was dis- 
comfited, and he taken in the field; afterwards many of 
his nobility were slain, amongst whom were the duke of 
Buckingham, the earl of Shrewsbury, the viscount Beau- 
mont, the lord Tiremond, &c. After which victory they 
returned to London, and brought with them the king, 
keeping his estate; then sent for the duke of York out of 
Ireland. In the mean time they called a parliament, 
during which the duke of York came to Westminster, and 
lodged in the king's palace; upon which grew a rumour 
that Henry should be deposed, and the duke of York 
made king. One day, the duke came in to the parliament 
chamber, and in tire presence of all the lords, sat down 
in the king's seat, and claimed the crown as his rightful 
inheritance. At which there was great murmuring a- 
mongst the lords, but after divers councils held, it was 
concluded, that Henry should continue king during his 
natural life, and after his death, his son, prince Edward, 
to be set apart, and the duke of York and his heirs to be 
kings, and he to be admitted protector of the king, and 
regent of the realm, and upon Saturday following, being 
the ninth of November, and 39th of king Henry, the duke 
was proclaimed through the city heir apparent to the 
crown, and his progeny after him. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 221 

And because queen Margaret, with her son, prince Ed- 
ward, with the dukes of Somerset and Exeter were in the 
north, and would not come up at the king's sending. It 
was agreed by the lords, that the duke of York and earl 
of Salisbury, should rise an army, and fetch them up by 
force, and to that purpose sped them northward. Of which 
the queen with her people having notice, with a great power 
of northern men, met with them upon the 30th of Decem- 
ber at a town called Wakefield, between whom was fought 
a bloody battle, in which was slain the duke of York, with 
his son, the earl of Rutland, Thomas Nevill, son to the 
earl of Salisbury, and the earl himself taken prisoner, 
whom she caused to be, with others, soon afterwards be- 
headed at Pontefract; then she made haste towards Lon- 
don, and the earl of Warwick, with the duke of Norfolk, 
who were appointed by York to attend the king, gathered 
an army, and upon Shrove-Tuesday, in the morning, gave 
her battle at St Alban's, in which Warwick and Norfolk 
were chaced, and the king again taken, and presented to 
the queen. Then, he, the same afternoon, made his son 
Edward knight, (who was eight years of age) with- 30 
persons more. 

The queen having thus gotten the upper hand on her 
enemies, thought all things safe, expressing more pride 
than she before had done ; in the height of which, news 
was brought her, that Edward, earl of March, eldest son 
to the duke of York, with the earl of Warwick, and 
others, with a great strength of Marchmen, were met at 
Cottiswald, in their way to London, wherefore the king 
and queen returned with their host northward, but before 
her departing from St, Alban's, she caused the lord Bons- 
field, and others, to be beheaded ; who had been taken in 
the former field. Then came the earls of March and 
Warwick to London, to whom resorted all the gentlemen 
of the east and south parts of England. Then was a 
council called of the lords spiritual and temporal, by whom, 
after much debating of the matter, it was concluded, that, 
forasmuch as king Henry, contrary to his honour and oath 
at the last parliament had done, and also that he was 
reputed unable and insufficient to govern the realm, he 
was, by their assents, discharged of all kingly honour and 
royalty, and by the authority of the said council, and 
agreement of the commons, Edward, eldest son to the duke 
of York, was elected king, who presently, with his army, 



222 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

followed Henry, and met with his host at a place called 
Towton, or Sherbourne, and upon Palm-Sunday gave 
them battle, which was so cruelly fought, that there were 
slain 50,000, besides those of note and quality, as the earl 
of Northumberland, the earl of Westmorland, the lord 
Clifford, Sir Andrew Trollop, and others. In the same 
field was taken the earl of Devonshire, and sent to York, 
and there beheaded. But Henry, the queen, prince Ed- 
ward, the duke of Somerset, the lord Ross, and others, fled 
into Scotland, and king Edward entered York, and there 
kept his easter. 

Thus Henry lost the crown after he had reigned full 38 
years, six months, and odd days, and the factious and 
ambitious queen forfeited all her right in the kingdom, 
verifying what was predicted : 

" But a young Lion hee at length shall tame, 
And send her empty back from whence she came. 
Much trouble shall be made about the Crowne, 
And Kings soone raised, and as soon put down." 

This Edward, the fourth of that name, and son to Rich- 
ard, duke of York, began his reign over the realm of 
England the fourth of March, in the year of grace (to 
reckon after the English computation) 1440, and upon 
Sunday being the feast day of St. Peter, was solemnly crown- 
ed at Westminster ; before which time he made 36 knights 
of the Bath, and soon afterwards he created his brother 
George, duke of Clarence, and his brother, Richard, duke 
of Glocester. Of this king's reign thus runs the prophecy: 

" The fiercest Beare, who by his power alone, 
Had planted the young Lion in his throne, 
Is sent abroad a Lionesse to finde, 
To be his phear: who having chang'd his mind, 
Doats on a Badger, whom some terme a Gray, 
And that shall cause much blood on Easter day. 
The Beare, who th' exil'd Tygresse meetes in France, 
Vowes the suppressed Lambe again t' advance. 
And from the Coop where he hath long bin pent, 
To raise him to his former government. 
The Lion the Land flying, with a small 
And slender traine, the ragged staffe swayesall. 
But the Beares fiercenesse shall be soon allaid, 
As one that is half conquered^ halfe betraid; 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 223 

Then shall the Lambe, whom he did late restore, 
(Again coopt up) be slaughtered by the Boare." 

After the king had visited the greatest part of the best 
towns and cities in the kingdom, in the second year of his 
reign, Margaret, late queen of England, with an army of 
French and Scotch, invaded the north part of England; 
v "lieu king Edward hearing, sped him thither. At whose 
aproach, the queen with the rest affrighted, she disbanded 
her troops, and in a carick would have sailed into France, 
but such a tempest fell, that she was forced to take a fish- 
ing-boat, and landed at Berwick, and rode thence to the 
Scotch king, where news was brought her that the carveil, 
in which the greatest part of her treasure was, was 
swallowed up in the sea. And in his third year, the 
lord John of Montacute, brother to the earl of War- 
wick, having chief command in the north, was warned 
of king Henry's coming, with a great power, out of Scot- 
land; against whom he assembled the northern men, and 
met -with him about Hexham, who routed the Scotch army, 
and chaced Henry so near, that he took certain of his train 
apparelled in blue velvet, garnished with two crowns, 
and fret with pearl and rich stones. He took also the 
duke of Somerset, the lord Hungerford, the lord Ross, and 
others; which duke, with the rest, were soon afterwards 
beheaded, some at Hexham, others at Newcastle. And 
the same year was king Henry taken in a wood, in the 
northern country 7 , by one Cantlow, and presented unto 
king Edward, who forthwith sent him to the tower, where 
he remained for a long time afterwards. 

Now Richard of Warwick, who, for his many victories 
and potency in the realm, was called Warwick the Great, 
was employed by the king into France, to treat a marriage 
between him and the lady Bona; which, whilst he was 
earnestly soliciting, the first of May, the king espoused 
Elizabeth, late wife to Sir Jojin Gray, who was slain at 
Towton, in the great battle fought against Henry ; which 
espousals were solemnized early in the morning at Grasten, 
near Stony Stratford, where were present none but the 
spouse, the spousess, the dutchess of Bedford, her mother, 
the priest, two gentle- womerr, and a young man who 
helped the priest at mass. \V hich marriage was for a time 
kept secret, but afterwards she was with great solemnity 



224 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C, 

crowned queen at Westminster. Which the earl of 
Warwick taking as a great affront, as being fooled in his 
^embassy, and queen Margaret being then, with her son 
Edward, in the court of France, he, with the earl of Ox- 
ford, who had stood always against the Yorkists, secretly 
made promise to the queen to wait their time to remove 
king Edward, and place the diadem upon the head of 
king Henry, which makes good : 

ic The Forest Beare, who by his power alone, 

Had planted the young Lion in his throne, 

Is sent abroad a Lionesse to fin do, 

To be his phere, who having changed his mind, 

Doats on a Badger, whom some doe terme a Gray, &c." 

By the Bear is figured Warwick, who gave the bear and 
the ragged staff, who supported the cause of Edward, earl 
of March, till he had crowned him kinir; who being sent 
into France to negociate a match between him and the lady 
.Bona, whom he calls the Lioness: in the interim he mar- 
ried with a Badger or Gray, by which is intimated Eliza- 
beth, the lady Gray, &c. 

And now, about the eighth year, broke out the long dis- 
sembled hate between the king and the earl of Warwick, 
who confedered unto him the duke of Clarence, who had 
before married his daughter. In which season, by their 
instigations Were divers rebellions in Lincolnshire, likewise 
in the North, by a captain who called himself Robin of 
Ridisdale; in Lincolnshire by the lord Wells, &c. 
Mean time the duke of Clarence, with the earl of Warwick 
and others, solicited Lewis XL king of France, to assist 
them in the restoring of king Henry to his rightful inherit- 
ance, who gladly granted their request. Which lords af- 
ter their departure from England, were proclaimed rebels 
and traitors ; who in September, the 10th year of the king, 
landed at Dartmouth, making their proclamations in the 
name of Henry the sixth, to whom multitudes from all parts 
resorted, so that the king being in the corth, with great 
danger passed the washes in Lincolnshire, and fled into 
Flanders ; and Warwick brought the king from the tower, 
and conducted him in all state through London to West- 
minster, and once more set the crown upon his head. 



■ ■■■■ 1 »... ■ ..-i...» »— . ap — — ^—^— vrltn 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTH. 



King Edward proclaimed 
usurper of the crown, and GIo- 
cester traitor. — His landing 
at Ravenspur. — The battle 
at Barnet. — The battle at 
Tewksbury.— King Henry 
murdered in the tower, and 
after him the duke of Cla- 
rence.— The death of Edward 



the fourth.— -Glocester takes 
upon him to be protector of 
the young king. — His tyranny, 
when protector. — He is pro* 
claimed king. — 'The murder of 
the two princes in the tower. 
— A prophecy of them before 
their deaths. 




1NG Henry being thus re-instated, there was daily 
waiting on the sea-coast for the landing of queen 
Margaret, and her son, prince Edward, and provision 
made against the re-entering of the kingdom by king Ed- 
ward and his company, then was called a parliament, ia 
which king Edward was proclaimed usurper of the crown, 
and his brother, duke of Glocester, traitor, and both attained 
by virtue of the said parliament. Then the earl of Warwick 
rode into Kent, thinking to meet the queen at Dover, 
but the wind was so averse to her, that she lay from No- 
vember to April, and all that while could not put to sea, 
by reason of which, the earl of Warwick's journey was 
disappointed. 

In the beginning of April, Edward landed at Raven- 
spur, with a small company of Hemings, who in all could 
not make up the number of a 1000, and so drew towards 
York, making proclamation in the name of king Henry, 
that his coming was to no other intent, than to claim the 
inheritance of the dukedom of York, where- the citizens 



226 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

kept him out till he had taken a solemn oath, that he pur- 
posed no more than he spake; where, having refreshed 
him and his followers, he departed thence, and held his way 
towards London, and having paked by favour and fair 
words the lord marquis Montacute, who lay with an army 
to stop his way, and finding his strength hourly to increase, 
he then made proclamation in his own name,, as king of 
England, and so held on his journey till he came to Lon- 
don, where he was gladly received into the city, and so 
made to Paul's and offered at the altar, and thence to the 
bishop's palace, where he found the king almost alone, 
for his servants and others had left him, and having put 
him under safe custody, he there rested himself till Easter 
eve. 

Whenhearing of hisbrother Clarence, with the otherlords 
comingwithastronghosttoSt. Albans, he hasted thitherward, 
and laid that night in Barnet ; in which season, the duke of 
Clarence, contrary to his oath made to the French king, 
renounced the title of king Henry, and came that night 
with his whole strength to his brother; at whose revolt 
the lords were somewhat abashed, but, by the earl of 
Oxford they were again comforted ; by whose persuasion 
they marched forward to Barnet, whither he came leading 
the vaward, and on a plain near the town, pitched his 
field- Upon the morrow, being Easter day, both hosts 
met. Upon the one party were two kings present, Ed- 
ward and Henry ; upon the other, the duke of Exeter, 
the lord marquis Montacute, the earls of Warwick and 
Oxford, with other men of fame. 

In their first encounter the earl of Oxford so manfully 
demeaned himself, that he bore over that part of the field 
which he set upon, insomuch that news came to London, 
that Edward's host was discomfited, and it might have 
happened if his men had kept their army, and not present- 
ly disordered themselves, by falling to rifle and pillage ; 
but after a long and cruel fight, king Edward obtained the 
victory; in which battle, of the lords' party, were slain, 
marquis Montacute, and hisbrother, the earl of Warwick ; 
on the king's party, the lord barons ; and of the commons, 
on both sides, 1,500. The same day, in the afternoon, 
came king Edward to London, and first offered at Paul's, 
and rode thence to his lodging at Westminster: and soon 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 227 

afterwards was king Henry brought, riding in a long 
gown of blue velvet, and conveyed through Cheap unto 
Westminster, and thence to the Tower, where he remain- 
ed all his life time afterwards. Thus we find by the 
premises, 

(C The Beare, who th' exil'd Tigresse meets in France, 
Vowes the suppressed Lambe again to advance : 
And from the Coop where he hath long bin pent 
To raise him to his former government.'' 

All which happened according to former prediction, as 
also the sequel : 

iC The Lion the land flying with a small 
And slender train, the ragged Staffe sways all : 
But the Bears hercenesse shall be soon allaid, 
As one that is halfe conquered, halfe betraid. ,, 

That is, half conquered by the prowess of king Edward, 
and betrayed by his perfidious brother, the duke of Cla- 
rence. Edward, thus having repossessed the kingdom, 
provided against the landing of queen Margaret and her 
son, who, notwithstanding, with an army of French- 
men entered the land as far as Tewksbury, where the king 
met her, and chaced her house, and slew many of them; 
in which battle was taken her son Edward, and brought to 
the king, who, demanding some questions, and he not 
answering him to his mind, the king struck him over the 
face with his gauntlet, upon which he was dragged into a 
"withdrawing room, and there slain by the duke of Gloces- 
ter. In the same year upon Ascension eve, was the corpse 
of Henry the sixth, late king, brought unreverently from 
the Tower through the high streets of the city unto Paul's, 
and there left for that night ; and on the morrow, conveyed 
with bils and staves, and the like weapons, unto Chelsea, 
and there without any solemn ceremony interred, who was 
stabbed with a dagger, in the Tower, by the hand of the 
foresaid Richard, duke of Glocester: 

* c So that the Lambe, the Beare did late restore, 
(Again coopt up) was murdered by a Bore." 

For the Boar was the cognizance belonging to the said 

F f2 



228 THE LIFE OF MERLIU, 

duke. When king Edward had thus subdued his ene- 
mies, he sent over the miserable and distressed queen 
Margaret into her own country, whence she never returned 
to (his kingdom afterwards. In the seventeenth year of 
the king, the duke of Clarence, his second brother, was, 
for some displeasure taken against him, committed to the 
tower, w here he had not remained long, but he was secretly 
drowned in a butt of Malmsey, as it was commonly 
voiced, bjr the instigation of the duke of Glocester. 1 let 
pass the rest of this king's reign, in which happened no 
great matter of remark or consequence ; so that after his 
many victories (for he was never conquered in any battle) 
he governed the realm in great tranquillity and quietness, and 
expired the 1 1th of April, in the year of theincarnatiou of our 
Lord 1483, after he had reigned full 22 years, and as much 
as from the fourth of March to the 1 1th of April, whose 
corpse was conveyed to Windsor, and there with all due 
and solemn cerernonj 7, interred, leaving two sons, prince 
Edward, the eldest, and Richard, duke of York, the 
younger, with three daughters, Elizabeth, afterwards 
queen, Sicily, and Katharine. 

Edward, the fifth of that name, and son to Edward the 
fourth, at II years of age began his reign the 11th of 
April, in the beginning of the year of our Lord God 1483. 
Of whom, and his uncle Richard, duke of Glocester, the 
prediction foiloweth ; 

<c From the Herculean Lion lately sphear'd, 
And in his Orbe, to Jove himself indear'd. 
Shall shine two stars^ without eclipse or cloud, 
But they, as to some sacred offering vow'd 
Shall perish on the Altar, ere they grow, 
To that full splendor, which the world they owe 
A bunch-back/d monster, who with teeth is born, 
The mockery of art, and natures scorn: 
Who from the wombs, preposterously 's hurld, 
And with feet forward, thrust into the world, 
Shall from the lower earth on which he stood. 
Wade every step he mounts here deep in blood, 
He shall to th> height of all his hopes aspire, 
And cloth'd in state his ugly shape admire: 
But when he thinks himselfe most safe to stand, 
From Forreigne parts^ a native Whelp shal land? 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES, 229 

Who shall the long divided blood unite, 

By joining of the Red Rose with the white. m 

Edward the fourth yielding his <?ue to nature, the long 
concealed grudge between the king and the queen's allies 
began to vent itself, for the marquis Dorset, brother to the 
widowed queen, with others of her proximity, had then the 
guardianship of the young king, who, being in the mar- 
ches of Wales, conveyed him towards Loudon, to make 
provision for his coronation, but the duke of Glocester, 
who intended otherwise, attended with a company of 
northern gentlemen, all in mourning, met with the king at 
Stony Stratford, and after a dissembled greeting between 
him and the marquis, discharged him of his office, and 
took upon himself the government of the king; and 
thence, accompanied with the duke of Buckingham, who 
was in great favour with the people, brought him with all 
honour towards London; whereof queen Elizabeth, mo- 
ther to the king, hearing, and fearing the sequel, she, with 
her younger son, the duke of York, and her daughter 
Elizabeth, took sanctuary at Westminster. Mean time 
the king was royally met by the citizens of London, and 
through the city brought to the bishop of London's pa- 
lace, and there lodged. j 

Then the duke of Glocester so wrought with Bouchier, 
arch-bishop of Canterbury, that he went with him to the 
queen, who, upon the arch-bishop's faith, and promise of 
his safety, delivered to them the duke of York. Then (lie 
duke caused the king and his brother to be removed to the 
tower, and the duke lodged himself in Crosby house, in 
BishopVgate street, and great preparation was made for the 
young king's coronation. In which time, the duke of Glo- 
cester being made protector, caused Sir Anthony Wood- 
ville, lord Scales, the queen's brother, the lord Richard, 
the queen's son, Sir Richard Hawt and Sir Thomas, to be 
beheaded at Pontefract, more out of his own tyranny 
than any trespass by them committed. Next, to further 
his aspiring purpose, he covertly sounded the hearts of the 
nobility, how they stood affected, and to that end called 
many councils; and amongst others, he found the lord 
Hastings, then lord chamberlain, constant to the suppprture 
ot king Edward the fourth's issue. 



230 m THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

Upon the 13th of June, being in the council chamber, 
at the Tower, with the duke of Buckingham, the earl of 
Derby, the lord Hastings, and others, he caused an out- 
cry of treason to be made in the next room, at which the 
lords were amerced ; and he himself went to the door, and 
received such persons in as he had before appointed, who 
laid band upon the lord Hastings ; in which stirring, the 
earl of Derby was hurt in the face, and for a while 
committed to safe custody, but the lord chamberlain in all 
haste was led to the hill within the Tower, and without 
judgement, or long confession, his head laid upon a log, 
and cut off by the executioner. After which cruelty thus 
done, all such as he suspected would oppose him in his 
claim to the crown, he put in hold; whereof the arch- 
bishop of York, and the bishop of Ely were two, but 
the earl of Derby, for fear his son, lord Strange, should 
have raised the Cheshire and Lancashire men, he set at 
liberty to go where he pleased. 

Upon the Sunday following, himself and the duke of 
Buckingham being present, with others of the nobility, 
doctor Ralph Shaa, in the time of his sermon, laboured to 
prove the children of Edward the fourth illegitimate, and 
not right heirs to the crown, preferring the title of the 
protector. At whom was flung a dagger, which stuck in 
the post close by his face, but none knew, or at least 
would acknowledge from whence it came, which doctor, 
who before had a great opinion of learning, having by this 
sermon lost all his reputation, died (as somesay distracted) 
not many days afterwards. 

Upon the Tuesday following, the commons of the city 
vere assembled at Guildhall, whither was sent by the 
protector the duke of Buckingham, with other lords, by 
whom was rehearsed to the mayor and the rest, what title 
the lord protector had to the crown before his nephews, 
which, in an excellent oration, was delivered by the duke 
of Buckingham, whom they applauded for the manner, 
but no way approved the matter of his speech, for it took 
no effect amongst them, all departing silent, and keeping 
their thoughts to themselves. Then the Tuesday succeed- 
ing, being the 20th day of June, the protector, of himself, 
took upon him, as king and governor of the realm, 
and r^de in great state to Westminster, and in the 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 231 

great hall, placing himself in the seat royal with the 
duke of Norfolk, who was before lord Howard on the right 
hand, and the duke of Suffolk on the left; after the royal 
oath taken, he called before him the judges, and giving 
them a long exhortation for the executing of his laws, 
administering justice, with other ceremonies being done, 
he was conveyed to the king's palace, and there lodged, 
and upon Friday, being the 22nd of June, throughout the 
city of London, he was proclaimed king of England, by 
the name of Richard the third. 

Yet thought he himself in no security whilst his two ne- 
phews, in the tower were living, concerning whose death (as 
some have reported) he tasted the duke of Buckingham, but 
finding him averse to his purpose, (as in his noble spirit 
abhorring an act so unnatural and execrable) he after- 
wards long sought all advantages how to insidiate his life 
though he had been the only means to rise him to that 
height of sovereignty, and knowing that it was in vain to 
work any noble or generous minds to such a bloody and 
inhumane purpose, he at length observed a melancholy 
and discontented gentleman, called James Tirrell, to whoia 
some have given the title of a knight, and him he moulded 
to his own ends; who, having the keys of the princes' 
lodgings delivered unto him, he hired two bloody ruffians 
who, when they were fast asleep, fell upon them, and 
smothered them in their beds, but in what place their 
bodies were buried is uncertain; and thus 

u From the Herculean Lion lately sphear'd, 
And in his Orbe, to Jove himself indear'd, 
Two luminous stars without eclipse or cloud, 
As had they been unto some offering vow'd, 
Are perishton the Altar, ere they grow, 
To that full splendor, which the world they owe." 

By the Herculean or Cleomcean Lion, is figured the 
victorious and invincible king Edward the fourth, lately 
spheared, that is, by death lately translated above the 
spheres, to the celestial orb, heaven, and by two shining 
stars, Edward the fifth, and Richard duke of York, &c* 
The rest needeth no comment. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER TWENTY-NINTH. 



Disseotion betwixt the king 
and the duke of -Buckingham. 
— Richard plotteth the life of 
Richmond. — Buckingham ta- 
keth arms against the king, 
and is beheaded. — - Bannister 
perfidious to his lord. — Queen 



Anne's policy and tyranny. — 
Richmond landeth at Milford 
Haven. — The battle at Bos- 
worth. — The death of Richard, 
— Richmond made king. — A 
prophecy of his reign, &c. 




1 CHARD, the third of that name, son to the duke of 
^ York, and youngest brother to Edward the fourth, 
late king, began his dominion over the realm of England 
the 20th of Jane, in the year of the incarnation of our 
lord 1483, with whose reign I proceed. Some say the 
noble duke of Buckingham came to demand of him the 
earl of Hereford's land promised him before he was king, 
which he not only denied him, but gave him rough and 
harsh language, which the duke, in regard of his former 
courtesies done unto him; and not only knowing his 
ingratitude, but with all his malicious spleen against any 
that should in the least oppose him in his bloody and most 
cruel designs, he therefore retired himself from court, and 
after some discourse held with bishop Morton, who was 
the king's prisoner, and in his custody, he was brought 
to have intelligence from the queen and the countess of 
Derby, by whose instigation he afterwards laboured to 
bring in Henry Richmond, then a banished man in the 
court of the duke of Britain, but from the house of Lan- 
caster, the next heir to the crown. 

Whilst these things were in secret agitation, the king 
laboured by ail means possible, of friends, gifts, promises. 



THE LIFE OP MERLIN, &C. 253 

and the like, to take away the life of the earl, whose 
projects and pursuits (too long here to rehearse) he rnira* 
eurously escaped, only comforted by some noble English- 
men, some compulsively banished, others voluntarily 
exiling themselves, all partners in one and the same cala- 
mity. In which interim, the duke of Buckingham's 
intent of innovation (some think by his perfidious servant, 
Banister) was discovered to the king, therefore, for his own 
security, he was forded to take arms, but many of his 
friends failing, and the indisposition of the weather waring 
against him, (for by reason of the land floods, he could 
not join his forces together) he therefore was compelled to 
dissolve his army, and sutler every man to shift for his best 
safety; himself retiring to the house of his secretary and 
servant Banister; who, in hope of a 1000 pounds reward to 
him that could bring forth the duke, (promised only, but 
never paid) betrayed him to the king, who caused him to 
be had to Salisbury, and on a scaffold in the market-place, 
to have his head cut off; and such was the tragical end of 
that honourable person. 

Of this Banister, and how his falseness to his lord was 
punished in him and his posterity, much hath been spoken, 
as that his wife died distracted, his son was found strangled 
with a cord, his daughter found drowned in a shallow puddle 
of water, and he suffered on the gallows for robbery; and 
that since that day, even to this age, none of that house 
and family, but have some or other of the name been 
troubled with the falling-sickness : a good caveat for all 
corrupt and perfidious servants* 

King Richard, though he had removed all, or most of 
his potent enemies, Buckingham, the queen's kindred, 
and others, yet, knowing he was hated for his many 
murders,, especially for the two princes in the tower, and 
that he was, moreover, suspected for causing queen Anne, 
his wife, to be poisoned, (who died suddenly) in hope to 
have married the lady Elizabeth, daughter to the queen 
dowager, who, after the death of her two brothers, was imme- 
diate heir to the crown. He, to stop the mouths of the 
multitude, and as far as might be to insinuate himself into 
the hearts of the commons, made many good and profitable 
laws to the benefit of the common- wealth, which are y^t 

g G 



5Si THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

called the wholesome laws of the kingdom; but this he 
did, not that he so much loved their good, but that he so 
well affected his own safety, and because he was loath 
to leave the world without some worthy character behind 
him. He strived to be reputed the best of kings, though 
he knew himself to be the worst of men. 

Amongst other pieces of his justice, it was laid to the 
charge of one William Collingborn, a gentleman, that he 
was an author of a libel, the effect whereof was this : 

The Cat, the Rat, and Lo\e\l the Dog, 
Rule all England under an Hog. 

By the Cat meaning Catesby, by the Rat, Ratcliffe, 
and by Lovell the Dog, the lord Lovell, all whom were 
court favourites, and ruled the land under the king, who 
bore the white Boar for his cognizance. For whichfrhyme, 
and other matters pretended against him, he was arraigned, 
convicted, and condemned, and afterwards suffered on a 
new pair of gallows on the Tower-hill, where he was no 
sooner cast off the ladder, but cut down, and his bowels 
ripped out of his belly, and thrown into the fire, and 
lived till the bloody hangman thrust his hand into the 
bulk of his body to grope for his heart, and even then he 
was heard to say aloud, O Lord Jesus! yet more trouble, 
and so died, to the great compassion of many people. 

Daring which passages, Henry, earl of Richmond, lord 
marquis Dorset, the queen's brother, and Sir James Blonf, 
then keeper of the castle of Guines, who brought with him 
John, the brave and valiant earl of Oxford, who had been 
kept prisoner in that castle ever since the field fought at 
Barnet. These, with others of their noble friends, with 
a small company of English, French, and Britains, land- 
ed in Milford Haven, in the month of August. Which 
earl no sooner sat his feet on shore, but he incontinently 
kneeling upon the earth, with a sober and devout counte- 
nance, began the psalm, Indica me domine, 8? discerne 
causam meam, <$rc. when he had finished and kissed the 
ground, he rose up, and commanded such as were about 
him, boldly, and in the name of God to set forward. Of 
whose landing the king hearing, he set it light, making 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 935 

no haste to oppose them, as despising them in regard 
of their small number. 

But when the arrival and return of this prince was 
rumoured abroad through the land, many drew unto 
him, as well sanctuary men as others, so that his army 
greatly increased ; which the king hearing, he then gather- 
ed a strong host, and so sped him, that upon the 22nd of 
the same month, August, and the beginning of the third 
year of his reign, he met with prince Henry near a 
village called Bosworth, besides Leicester, where, betwixt 
them was fought a sharp and cruel battle for the time, 
it would have been more bloody if the king's party had been 
fast and constant to him; for some left him, and fled to his 
enemy, and others stood, hovering as neuters, to see to 
whom the victory would fall, of which the lord Stanley, 
father-in-law to the earl of Richmond, with a strong band 
of Cheshire and Lancashire men was chief. 

Some were of opinion that the king lost the battle by his 
own fool-hardiness and head-strong spleen ; for when the 
fight was begun, and he mounted on a white steed, was in 
the centre of his army, to give direction for the field upon 
any occasion, upon the sudden, he called to know what 
part of the adverse ground Richmond then maintained; who 
being pointed to the place, suddenly, without any direc- 
tions left, or substitute to command in his place, sprung 
out of his host, and made thither, and calling aloud for 
Richmond, was known by his guard; who, seeking to 
press through them, wounding some, and killing others, 
was himself, with his horse, broached upon their halberts. 
The news of the king's death being blown abroad, his 
army stood at a stand, only defending themselves, but not 
offending any, insomuch that the glory of the day fell to 
the earl of Richmond and his partisans. Upon the king's 
party were slain John, duke of Norfolk, (before his late 
creation lord Howard) with Brakenbury, lieutenant of the 
Tower, but no other of fame or quality; where was taken 
the earl of Surrey, son to the duke of Norfolk, who was 
sent to the Tower, and there remained prisoner a long time 
afterwards. 

Then was the body of king Richard despoiled of his 
arms, and stripped naked, and then disgraceful! v cast 

ogS 



gS6 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

behind a man riding upon a lean jade, (the body being 
almost wholly covered with mire and dirt) and so unreve- 
rently carried to the Friars at Leicester, where, after a sea- 
son he had laid openly that all men might behold him, with 
little reverence, and less mourning, he was cast aside in an 
obscure grave, and there buried, when he had reigned, or 
rather had usurped the crown, by the space of two years, 
two months, and two days. 

It is said of this prince, that he came into the world with 
his feet forward, which being taunted with (being a youth) 
by a young noh!eman, and one of his peers, he made an- 
swer, It is tr*de, and was it not time for me to make haste 
into the world, there being such a bustling and trouble in 
the land ; which he seemed to allude unto those times 
when his father laid claim to the crown. He was born 
also with teeth in his head, which was somewhat prodigi- 
ous to, and crook-backed he was, but whether so born, or 
that it came to him by any sinister accident, I am altoge- 
ther ignorant; only of this I am sure, that all these, with 
ihe process of his bloody practices, punctually comply 
with the prophecy, which saith ; , 

iC A bnnch back'd monster, who with teeth is born, 
The mockery of art, and natures scorn, 
Who from the worabe. preposterously is hurld, 
And with feet forward, thrust into the world. 
Shall from the lower earth on which he stood, 
Wade every step he mounts knee deep in bloud, 
He shall to th' height of all his hopes aspire, 
And cloth'd in state his ugly shape admire : 
But when he thinks himself most safe to stand, 
From forreigae parts, a native Whelp shall land." 

After the battle thus won, prince Henry was received as 
king, and there instantly so proclaimed, who thence hasted 
to London, so that upon the 28th of August, he was by 
the mayor and citizens met in good array at Harnsy park, 
and thence conveyed through the city, and lodged in the 
bishop of London's palace for a time, and then he remo- 
ved to Westminster. 

This Henry, the seventh of that name, son to the earl of 
.Richmond, began his dominion over the realm of England 
the 22nd of August, in the year of grace 1485, and the 30th 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 237 

day of October following, at Westminster, was crowned; 
and in the second year of his reign, he espoused Elizabeth, 
the eldest daughter to king Edward the fourth, who, the 
year afterwards, upon St. Katherine's day, was crowned at 
Westminster. And this Henry is that native Lion's 
Whelp before spoken of: 

tC Who shall the long divided blood unite, 
By joyning of the Red Rose with the white.*' 

For by this marriage the long divided houses of York, 
who gave the white, and Lancaster, who gave the red 
rose, were happily combined, and from that even to this 
present day, never disparted or sundered. Of him it was 
also thus predicted : 

u The spirit that was merely Saturnine, 

Being supprest upon the land shall shine. 

Planets of a more glad aspect, and make 

Peace from their Orbs, fixt in the Zocliacke: 

Yet from the cold Septentrion Mars shall threat 

And warme their frigid pulses with his heat. 

And Mercury shall (though it may seem rare) 

Consult with Cassiopeia in her Chaire, 

To fashion strange impostures : but warres god 

By sword, nor Hermes with his charming rod 

Shall ought prevaile: where power with Princes meete, 

And when Religion shall Devotion greet, 

Where all these foure at once predominant are, 

Vaine are the attempts of stratagem or warre; 

But he who of the former is possest, 

Shall be abroad renowned, and at home blest. 

Fame afarre off his glorious name shall tell, 

And Plutus (near hand) make his Coffers swell." 

By the Saturnine spirit , is intended the bloody and mali- 
cious condition of Richard the third, which was now 
suppressed by death ; for as Saturn was said to devour his 
own children, so he hungered and thirsted after the blood 
of his own brother and nephews, and therefore, not altoge- 
ther improperly alluded. The rest you shall find made 
apparent in the sequel. 

This religious and wise king being thus peaceably insta- 
ted in the throne, his old inveterate enemy the dutehess of 



238 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

Burgundy, raised a new impostor, whom she called Rich- 
ard, duke of York, the younger brother to Edward the 
fifth. But hearing, the king intended to make away 
young Warwick, who was son to the duke of Clarence, 
and then prisoner in the Tower, they changed his name from 
York to Warwick, who was no other than the son of a 
baker. This youth she put to the tutoring of a priest, who 
so well improved him, that he could now to the life per- 
sonate a prince ; and for no less he was received first into Ire- 
land, to whom the earl of Lincoln came, who also made 
a pretended right to the crown. To whose aid the dutchess 
sent 2,000 Almains, under the command of one Martin 
Swart, an old soldier, and of approved discipline ; these, 
with the lord Lovell and Kildare, landed in Lancashire, 
and made towards Y'ork, with whom the king met at a 
place called Stoak. In which fight, the army of the rebels 
was routed, Swart and Lincoln slain, and the lord Lovell, 
thinking to swim the Trent, was drowned, and Simnel, the 
mock king taken ; whom the king would not put to death, 
but made him a turn-broach in his kitchen ; where he con- 
tinued long afterwards. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIRTIETH. 



The ear] of Northumberland 
slain by the commons — The 
Machiayelian plot of the dutch- 
ess of Burgundy to disturb the 
peace of king Henry, — Perkin 
Warbeck, her creature. — He 
is nobly married in Scotland, 
and taken for the duke of 



York. — The death of lord Stan. 
ley and others. — Divers insur- 
rections about Perkin. — His 
death, with that of the young 
earl of Warwick. — The death 
of the king. — A prophecy of 
the reign of Henry the eighth. 



IN the fourth year of this king's reign, the earl of Nor- 
thumberland sent to gather some taxes, which were to 
be levied in the north, was slain by the commons, who still 
favoured the party of the Yorkists. And further, to 
countenance the act, they made an insurrection, and 
choosed for their captains, one Chambers, and another 
Egremond ; to suppress whom was sent the noble and 
valiant earl of Surrey, who having discomfited their army, 
and took Chambers, with divers others of the chief rebels, 
who were led to York, and there executed as traitors; 
But Egremond fled the field, and escaped to the dutchess 
of Bnrgundy, whose court was a sanctuary for all male- 
contents and fugitives. 

ei Thus from the cold Septentrion Mars did threat, 
And warm their frigid pulses with his heat." 

This subtile Mercurialist knowing how wisely and poli- 
ticly the king had borne him between the emperor and 
the king of France ; (who had been at mortal enmity about 



240 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

the marriage of the young dutchess of Britain, she being 
first contracted by a proxy to the old emperor, but from 
him divorced before enjoyed, and married to the youthful 
French king) she 1 say, observing his provident and 
cautelous proceeding in all things for the security of his 
state and kingdom, with a false stamp, coined a new duke 
of York, a stripling, called Perkin Warbeck, who beicg 
christened by Edward the fourth, it might be suspected 
that (being, as he was, warlike, so also much addicted to 
the love of women) by two much familiarity with the 
mother, the child might have some of the Y'orkist's blood 
in him, Edward bein^ both father and god-father. But so or 
no, most sure it was that the dutchess exposed him to the* 
world for the young duke of Sfork, who was spared from 
death, winch his brother suffered in the tower, (for so it 
was given out,) 

But after she had fully tutored and instructed him to 
take upon him the majesty and deportment of a prince, 
least he should be found to be her creature, she cunningly 
sent him from her court into Ireland, where he was receiv- 
ed for no less than he named himself. Thence king Char- 
les sent for him into France, where he had princely enter- 
tainment and service, suiting with his stile; but a peace 
being concluded between England and France, finding no 
safety there, he came as a distressed stranger to shelter him- 
self under the wings of the dutchess of Burgundy, whom 
she (cunningly) at first looked upon as strangely, till she 
had questioned him about all things, in which she had 
before instructed hira, and then, as a prince whose 
injuries were much to be pitied, she received him to her 
protection. 

The news of a surviving duke of York was greedily 
swallowed by the discontented commons ot" England. The 
chief of note who were drawn to this belief, were the lords 
Fitswater, Mountfort, and Thwaytes, with the lord Stanley, 
who was father-in-law to the king, and then lord chamber- 
lain, Ratcliffe, and others. But Henry then understand- 
ing the danger likely to ensue, first made it manifest to the 
world, how both the princes were altogether murdered, 
with the manner of their deaths, by which he did infa- 
libly evince that he could not be York. Then the politic 
king thought there was no surer way to disable the impos- 



WITH HIS STAANGE PROPHECIES. 241 

tor's claim, than by taking away his abettors ; and whilst 
these things were thus in agitation, Sir Robert Clifford) who 
had undermined all the dutchess's proceedings, came over 
to the king, and disclosed them unto him, who challenged 
the lord Stanley of treason, as to be a prime encourager of 
Perkin's faction For which, the king, notwithstanding the 
near affinity, as the name of father and son interchanged 
between them, and forgetting, also, that he was the prime 
man who set the crown upon his head, he caused him the 
15th of February following, to be beheaded upon a 
scaffold upon Tower-hill, not without great aspersion of 
ingratitude. Which severity of justice was also executed 
upon Mountford and Stafford. 

Then Perkin, who had wintered with the dutchess, in 
the Spring made an attempt for England ; his forces subsist- 
ing merely of male- contents, bankrupts, and fugitives J 
and hearing the king was in the north, landed to the num- 
ber of 120, and odd, in Kent, thinking they would have 
adhered to his faction; but he himself kept a ship-board. 
But the Kentish men, apprehending the danger of a rebel- 
lion, seeing no more would come on shore, set upon them 
whom they found, slew some, and took the rest prisoners; 
all which uere put to death, and not one amongst them 
spared. Thence he sailed to Flanders, to fetch more aid, 
and from thence to Ireland, where he found small comfort, 
afterwards to Scotland, (whose arrival there, being by 
commendatory letters prepared by Charles, the French 
king) where he was royally entertained. And to the Scotch 
king, and his nobility, he delivered so smooth and passion- 
ate a tale, (before dictated by the dutchess) that they took, 
not only great commisseration of his former disasters, but 
promised withal, not only to rise, but to establish him in 
the height at which he aimed ; causing him to be espous- 
ed to a beautiful virgin, the lady Gordon. And after- 
wards, with a potent army, entered Northumberland, 
making proclamation in the name of Richard, duke of 
York, with sugared promises of several enfranchisements 
and immunities to the commons, if they would acknow- 
ledge him their king and sovereign; all which, nothing 
prevailed with the people, so that king James, hearing of 
Henry's marching towards him with a puisant host, he 
retreated with his army into his country. 
Number VI. h h 



24? THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

After which, there was a marriage concluded between 
king James and the lady Margaret, the eldest daughter to 
king Henry, from whom our king James, ofblessed memory 
descended, as immediate and undoubted heir to the crown 
of England. ^Vkich match was consummate in the 
seventh year of king Henry. And in the same year, land- 
ed at Plymouth, Katharine, daughter to the king of Spain, 
who, upon £t. Erkenwald's day, was espoused to prince 
Arthur, eldest son to the king; who, in April following, 
expired in the town of Ludlow. The year after, began 
the famous and most glorious work of the king's chapel at 
Westminster; and upon the Uth of February, died queen 
Elizabeth, wife to king Henry, in the Tower, lying then in 
child-bed, &c. 

There was also a commotion in Devonshire and Corn- 
wal about the collection of 120,000 pounds, which the 
king had demanded in parliament. The first raisers there- 
of were a lawyer and a black- smith J who coming as far as 
Wells, the lord Audiey took upon him to be their general. 
Who, passing through Kent, came as far as Blackh^ath, 
in the sight of London, but were then encountered by the 
king's forces. Lord Audiey was taken and beheaded, the 
lawyer and smith drawn, hanged, and quartered; the 
rest by the king pardoned. 

But after that fortunate match between the Scotch kin^ 
and the lady Margaret, there was no longer residence there 
for Perkin, who exposed him to his further fortune: yet 
would not his fair bride, Katherine Gordon, leave him, 
though he was forced to forsake the land, but associate 
him into Ireland. From whence he was presently sent for 
by a new company of Cornish and Devonshire rebels, who 
began first to assemble themselves at a town called Bod- 
min, in Cornwal. To whom Perkin was no sooner come, 
but they made him their captain and prince, who called 
himself no more Richard, duke of York, but Richard, 
king of England; under which title, they marched as 
far as Exeter, and laid siege to the city, making against it 
many violent assaults. To rescue which, and to remove 
the siege, the king came with a strong army; at whose 
approach, the multitude submitted themselves, for their 
captain, Perkin, had forsook them, and took sanctuary at 
Bewdley, and of the king's free grace were pardoned. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHCEIES. 243 

King Henry, loath to violate the privilege of sanctuary, 
would not take him thence per force, but, upon promise of 
life he yielded himself to the king, who, after he had 
confessed unto him all the manner of his jugling, and 
from whence it came, brought him up with him towards 
London, where, by the way, he was made a scorn and 
mockery of the people. Upon tlie 28th of November, he 
was committed to the Tower, and afterwards set at large, 
and was at free liberty in the court; from whence he made 
a second escape, and being again taken, his life was again 
pardoned, and he sent to the rower. 

Eut for that delicate lady, Katherine Gordon, the wife 
of this counterfeit, his majesty much commiserating that 
the nobleness of her blood should be so much abused, he 
gave unto her the means of a marchioness, a yearly 
revenue answerable to so noble a birth and rare a beauty. 

Whilst thedutchess of Burgundy's creature was thus in 
the Tower, he plotted with the young earl of Warwick, 
who had been there a prisoner from his infancy ; who had 
so far prevailed with the lieutenant's servants, that upon 
promise of reward, they had plotted, by killing of their 
master, to make themselves keepers of the keys, and set 
the two prisoners at liberty. Which plot being discover- 
ed before it came to proof, upon the 16th of November, in 
Whitehall, at Westminster, for the former predictory 
practice were arraigned Perkin Warbeck, and three 
others; and being convicted of capital treason, Perkin, 
and one John Awter, were soon afterwards hanged at 
Tyburn. And soon afterwards, the young earl of War- 
wick, son to the duke of Clarence, was beheaded at Tower- 
hill ; and the same day one Blewet, and another Astwood, 
executed at Tyburn. 

Thus you see how the dutchess of Burgundy's plots 
were confounded in the death of this Perkin. , Concerning 
whom it was thus long before predicted : 

u That Mercury should (theugh it might seeme rare) 
Consult with Cassiopeia in her Chair, 
To fashion new impostures," &c. 

And (then the former discoursed of) never were any 

h h 2 



244 THE LIFE OP MERLIN, 

that carried such countenance to the deluding of so many 
foreign princes. The prophet in Cassiopeia, (with whom 
Mercury consulted) meaning the factious dutchess, who by 
all her endeavours studied to disturb the peace ofthat prudent 
prince, king Henry, who was able to over-match her in po- 
licy, and therefore, Merlin foreseeing her future jugling, by 
impostures and adulteration, yet seeming heirs to the crown ; 
as also his sundry troubles in the north raised by the Scotch, 
and qualified again by the valour of the noble earl of Surry, 
the king's lieutenant, and others. The sequel is verified. 



<c 



But warres god, 



Bv sword : nor Hermes by his charming rod 

Shall ought prevail, where power and prudence meet, 

And when Religion shall devotion greet. 

Where a]! these foure, at once predominant are 

Vain are th' attempts of stratagem or warre, 

But he who of the former is possest, 

Shall be abroad renown'd, and at home blest. 9 ! 

This Cassiopeia, was the daughter of /Solus, the wife of 
Cepheus, and mother of Andromeda, who, in her prime 
of beauty, comparing with the IS'ereides, was afterwards 
translated amongst the stars ; in whom the prophet alle- 
gorically comprehends the Burgundian dutchess. I am 
ioath to enter into a further discourse of the passages in 
this king's reign, being excellently and judicially express- 
ed by Sir Francis Bacon, lord chancellor, in prose; and in 
an accurate and ingenious poem by Mr. Charles Allein. 
Briefly, this wise and worthy prince expired the Saturday 
before St. George's day, being the 21st of April, at his 
manor of Richmond, when he had reigned 23 years and 
eight months, wanting but one day. In whose praise no 
pen can be too prodigal ; who studied rather to end his 
wars by policy, than by the effusion of Christian blood ; 
insomuch that alL his neighbouring princes laboured to 
have with him peace and alliance; and because in all 
temporal polices he far exceeded all Christian princes in 
his time reigning. Three sundry popes, Alexander the 
sixth, Pius the third, and Julius the second, every one of 
them, during the time they held their ecclesiastical 
sovereignty, by the unanimous consent of their spiritual 
councils, admitted him for a chief defender of the church. 



WITH JTIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 245 

above all others. And for a confirmation of the same, 
sent to him by three several famous ambassadors, three 
rich swords, and three caps of maintenance; who, 
notwithstanding his many costly buildings, and infinite 
expences, as well in foreign parts, as to pacify the domes- 
tic tumults and seditions in his own kingdom, left behind 
him a mighty magazine of treasure, with riches innumer- 
able, complying with the prophecy : 

,c Fame afar off his glorious acts shall tell, 
And Flatus (neere hand) make his coffers swell." 

Him succeeded his sole son (after the decease of prince 
Arthur) Henry, the eighth of that name, the true and 
righful inheritor to the two crowns of England and 
France. Who began his sovereignty of this realm the 22nd 
of April, 'in the year of the incarnation of our blessed Lord 
and Saviour 1509, and was crowned at Westminster, on 
the day of the feast of St. John the Baptist, or Decolla- 
tions. This royal prince was joyfully received as the 
successor of so worthy a prince as his father, who was 
both famous and fortunate, from the beginning to the end 
of his reign. Of whom it was thus predicted : 

C{ Rouze him shall this fierce Lion ia his den, 
Be favoured of the gods, and fear'd of men, 
Gallia shall quake, Albania stand in aw, 
And C&sars stoop, when he but shews his paw. 
To league with him, Hesperia shall take pride, 
Those whom the Jfricke Moores half black had dyde, 
He, by his art, shall fashion Musicall grounds 
From th' untun'd Harp, that discords only sounds, 
And further, from the sceptarchy of Hils, 
That Europe aws, and triple-crown, that fits 
The Christian world with terror: take the power 
And bring it home unto his British bower : 
Blunting the horns of all the Bashan Buls, 
And rooting from the Land the razord skuls: 
O're Glastenbury, for the eye that's dim, 
May at that day behold a Whiting swim. 
But none without their faults since Adam's fal: 
He shall have many vertues, but not all. 
Who never spares, (for who can frailty trust?) 
Man in his rage, or woman in his lust." 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIRTY-FIRST. 



Prince Henry married to 
his brother's wife.— He win- 
Beth Touraine and Tournay in 
France. — Flodden-ficld, with 
the famous victory against 
the Scots. — Charles Brandon, 
duke of Suffolk, marrieth 
the French queen, the king's 
sister. — The emperor, Char- 
les the fifth, made knight 
of the Garter. — Peace with 



France. — Both kings defy the 
emperor. — .The death of car* 
dinalWoolsey. — Henry divor- 
ced from his first wife. — Mar- 
rieth the lady Anne Bullen. — 
Her death. — He marrieth the 
lady Jane Seymour, — He re- 
Tolteth from Rome.— The earl 
of Hartsford's victories in 
Scotland. — Boulogne besieged 
and won. 



HENRY the seventh, who was loath to part with 
the dowry of the Spanish princess, wrought so by 
a dispensation from the pope, that his son, prince Henry, 
was married to the widow of his own brother, prince 
Arthur, deceased ; who, coming to the crown, (some say by 
the counsel of his father on his death-bed) put to death Emp- 
son and Dudley, who had gathered a great mass of money 
into the king's treasury, by exacting and extorting from the 
commons, of whom they were extremely hated. For which 
piece of justice, he won the hearts of the people; and soon 
afterwards was born at Richmond, upon New-year's day, 
prince Henry, the king's son, who died upon St. Matthew's 
day the year following. And soon afterwards, was the 
lord Dacres sent into Spain, to aid the king against the 
Moors ; and Sir Edward Poynings, into Gelderland, to aid 
the prince of Castile. And in his fourth year, the king in 
person invaded France, and took Touraine and Tournay! 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 247 

having discomfited the French host at a place called 
Blewmy. During which time, the Scotch king raised 
against England an 100,000 men, whom the earl of Surry, 
the king's lieutenant, encountered at a placecalled Flodden. 
In which battle the king himself was slain, with eight 
bishops, and 11 earls; besides, of the common soldiers 
innumerable. For which service by him done, king 
Henry created him duke of Norfolk, and his son, earl of 
Surry. 

In his sixth year, a peace was concluded between Eng- 
land and France ; and in his seventh year, the French king 
espoused the lady Mary, the king's sister, in the month of 
J une, and died upon New-year's day next ensuing ; where- 
fore the king sent for her again, by Charles Brandon, duke 
of Suffolk." In February was born the lady Mary, the 
king's daughter, at Greenwich ; and in April, the French 
queen came over into England, and was married to the 
foresaid duke of Suffolk. In which year, also, Margaret, 
queen of Scots, the king's sister, fled into England, and 
lay at a place called Hare-bottle, where she was delivered 
of a daughter called Margaret, and came to London ia 
May, arid tarried there a whole year; and upon the eighth 
of May following, returned again into her country. 

In October, the tenth year of the king, the admiral of 
France came into England, and Tournay was again 
delivered to the French king, whom afterwards Henry met 
between Arde and Guines, where were great triumphs, 
Afterwards, there was a solemn meeting between the empe- 
ror, and Charles the fifth and the king of England, who 
went with him to Graveling, and afterwards he went to Calais 
with the king, where he was royally entertained and 
feasted, who in the 13th year of the king, the sixth of 
June, was honourably received into the city of London, 
by the lord mayor, the aldermen, and the commonalty, 
who from London went to meet the king at Windsor, 
where he was made knight of the garter: which was done 
with great solemnity; and then, from Southampton he 
sailed into Spain. Soon afterwards, Christian, king of 
Denmark, came into England, and had royal entertain- 
ment from the king. 

During these passages, the earl of Surrey, lord admiral, 
who before had appeased the tumults and manifold com- 



248 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

bustions stirred up in Ireland, burnt divers towns in 
Britain and Picardy; and the duke of Suffolk invaded 
France with 10,000 men, and passing the river Some, 
spoiled many towns and villages, and returned without 
opposition. And the duke of Albany in Scotland, who 
before had made a vain attempt against England, besieged 
the castle of Wark, but hearing of the earl of Surry's 
marching towards him, he fled into his country. 

In the 18th year of the king, cardinal Woolsey went 
over into France, pompously attended ; where he conclu- 
ded a league between the king of England and the French 
king, who both defied the emperor, and sent an army into 
Italy, to make war against him, and upon the 19th of 
October (he great master of France, came over into Eng- 
land, to ratify the league made between the two kings. Ail 
which verify that part of the prediction ; 

* c Rouzehim shall this fierce Lion in his den, 
Be favoured of the gods, and fear'd of rneH, 
Gallia shall quake, Albania stand in awe, 
And Ccesars stoop, when he but shews his paw« 
To league with him, Hesperia shall take pride, 
Those, whom the Africke Moores haife blacke have 
dyde." 

By Albania, is meant Scotland, so called from Albanac- 
tus, the second son of Brute, the first king thereof; and by 
Hesberia, Spain, who after the African Moors had long 
possessed the greatest part of the land, by interchangeable 
marriages between them and the natives. The Spaniards 
are black and tawny even to this day. 

In the 21st year, the king having cast his eye upon a 
new mistress. Pretending a matter of conscience, he 
began to consider with himself, that he had long incestu- 
ously lived with his brother's wife; for which cause, the 
legates of Rome met with the king at Blackfriars, about 
the lawfulness or unlawfulness of that marriage. Amongst 
the rest, cardinal Woolsey, standing stiff against a divorce, 
in October following, was discharged of his chancellorship, 
And presently afterwards was a peace concluded between 
the emperor and the king ; and in the year afterwards 
the great cardinal, who had been arested of high treason, 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 249 

and by that means forfeited his infinite estate to the king, 
and died on St. Andrew's day, in a poor friary, not without 
suspicion of poison. 

Afterwards, by a legal course, and due process of law ? 
the king was divorced from the lady Katherine, his bro- 
ther's wife, and soon afterwards married to the lady Anne 
Bullen, who, upon Whitsunday, was crowned queen; and 
on Midsummer day following, died the French queen Mary, 
the king's sister, and wife to Charles Brandon, duke of 
Suffolk. And, on the eve of the nativity of the blessed 
virgin following, was born the lady Elizabeth, at Green- 
wich ; in which year (as an happy presage of her future 
love unto the gospel) it was enacted that no man should 
sue any appeal to Rome. 

in January, the 27th year of the king, died the lady 
Katherine, princess dowager, and late wife to the king. 
And, in the 28th of his reign, queen Anne Bullen, with 
her brother, the lord Rochford, Norris, Weston, Breerton, 
and Marks, were attainted of high treason, and beheaded. 
And soon afterwards, the king married the lady Jane 
Seymour. In the year 1537, on St. Edward's eve, in June, 
prince Edward was born at Hampton court; and the 
S3rd of October following, died queen Jane, and lietht 
buried at Windsor. Then, was the bishop of Rome, with 
all his usurped power, quite abolished out of the realm, 
and the king assumed to himself the supremacy over the 
church in England and Ireland ; to whom were granted 
the first-fruits, (before paid to the pope) with the tenths of 
all spiritual possessions. 

For denying of whose supremacy, that famous and 
learned gentleman, Sir Thomas Moore, lord chancellor of 
England, with the bishop of Rochester, were beheaded ; 
«and presently afterwards, three monks of the Charterhouse, 
for the same offence. Then, iollowed the dissolution of all 
the abbeys, friaries, and nunneries, through the whole 
realm, when the mass, and all Romish superstition were 
forbidden ; and divers images that had engines to make 
their eyes open and shut, and their other limbs to move 
and stir, were broken to pieces and defaced, and all friars, 
monks, canons, and nuns were forced to change their 



1 1 



250 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

habits, and forsake their cloisters. A proclamation also 
was made, which hath been since establised as a law, that 
the English bible should be read in every church through- 
out the realm ; and that no holydajs should be solemnized 
and observed, except our Ladydays, the Apostles, the 
Evangelists, St. George, and St. Mary Magdalen ; and 
that St. Mark's eve, and St. Lawrence's eve, should not 
be kept as fasting days. And that children should not go, 
decked and garnished (as they do on feasting days) upon 
St. Nicholas, St. Katherine, St. Clement's, and the holy 
Innocents, and the like. All which comply with the pro- 
phecy : 

*«-, He from the septarchy of Hils, 

That Europe aws, and triple crown, that fils 
The Christian world with terror, takes the power 
And brings it home into his British bower : 
Blunting the horns of all the Bashan Buls, 
And rooting from the Land the razord skuis." 

By the Septarchy of hills^ meaning the seven hills on 
•which the city of Rome standeth ; and further, taking on 
himself to be the supreme head of the church within his own 
dominions; he takes away that power from the popes' triple- 
crown, to which all the Christian kingdoms else where were 
in vassallaore. Bv blunting the horns of the Bashan bulls. 
meaning the pope's writs of excomunications, interdictions, 
anathemas, or cursings, which are called his bulls, the 
terror whereof he now vilifies and sets at nought. Bv 
rootino' the razord skulls from the land, is meant the 
suppression of friars and monks, who had the upper part 
of their heads always shaven, &c. Many were those who 
suffered for denying the supremacy, as friar Forrest, 
who was hanged and burnt in Smithfield ; with the 
image of Darvell Gathren, in Wales. And for the same 
• offence suffered the abbots of Reading, of Colchester, 
and the great rich abbot of Glastonbury, whose name was 
"Whiting, whom the king commanded to be hanged upon 
the top of the Tower, an eminent place, and visible afar, for 
which way soever a man travels towards that town, it might 
be seen 20 miles distant. Now it seemed a thing impos- 
sible, that the sea, with its greatest inundation should 
swell so hiiih, that any fish should float over or upon it; 



WITH HIS STRAXGE PROPHECIES. 251 

yet so saith the prophecy, and all such are mystically 
delivered, parabolically, or in allegorical figures : 

l < O're Glastenbury, for the eye thats dim, 
May at that day behold a Whiting swim." 

The place being so conspicuons and apparent, that one 
with half an eye might see his body waving between the 
two elements of earth and air. 

After divers rebellions in Ireland, for which the earl of 
Kildare was committed, and died a natural death during 
his imprisonment in the Tower; and that his son made a 
new insurrection, and slew the bishop of Develin; and that 
for another rebellion, Thomas Fitzgarret with five of his 
uncles were drawn, hanged, and quartered, and that the 
lord Leonard Gray, was beheaded on the Towerhill, for 
divers treasons done in Ireland, during the time he was there 
deputy for the kin^. Yet the king so wisely and discreet- 
ly demeaned himself towards that nation, that in the 33rd 
y^ar of -his reign, the earl of Desmond, and the great 
Oneile, submitted themselves to his mercy and grace. 
After which the great Oneile was created earl of Tyron, 
and his son, baron of Doucannon. Thus you see, 

Ci He by his Art could fashion Musical! grounds 
From th' untun'd harp, that discords only sounds." 

By the Harp, which is the arms of the kingdom, 
meaning Ireland itself, &c. For treason also were behead- 
ed, at the Towerhill, Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex, 
and vicar-general of England, (who had been once a 
faithful servant to cardinal Woolsey, and afterwards enter- 
tained, and raisedby the king; who,as itis commonly voiced, 
put it first into the king's head to pull down the abbeys, 
and make a dissolution of the monasteries) and with him 
died the lord Huno-erford, 

In the 35th year of the king, the earl of Hartford, being 
made lieutenant general, for his wars in Scotland, in regard 
of divers affronts given him. The fourth of May he 
landed at Leith, burning and destroying the country, 
sparing neither castle, town, pile, nor village, for he 

i i 2 



252 THE LIFE OF MERLIN", &C» 

ransacked and laid waste the borough and town of Edin- 
burgh, with the abbey called Holy flood house, and the 
king's palace nearly adjoining the town of Leith also, with 
the haven and pier; the castle and village of Cragmiller, 
the abbey of New Bottell, with part of Muskleborough 
town, the chapel of the lady of Lauret, Preston town, and the 
castle of Harinton town, with the friars and nunnery ; a 
castle of Oliver Sanckers, the town of Dtmbare, Laureston, 
with the Grange, Urilaw, Westcrag, Enderlaw, the pile 
and the town of Broughton, Chester Fell's, Crawned, Dudi- 
stone, Stanhouse, the Fiker, Beverton, Franent, Shenstone, 
Mar le, Farpren, Kirklandhill, Katherwyke, Belton, 
Eastbarnes, Howland, Butterden, Qmckwoe, Blackbourne, 
Raunton, Bildi, and the Tower, with many other towns 
and villages by the fleet on the sea-side, as Kincorne, St. 
Miners, the Queen's ferry, part of Petinwaines, &c. 
Which, for their brave and notable service there done, he 
made at Leith 45 knights. And thus was the king victor- 
ious over Scotland. 

In this interim, wars were proclaimed against France, 

so that the king gave free iibery and licence to all his 

subjects, to use the French king, and all that depended upon 

him to their best advantage and commodity. And the 

same year he prepared an army to invade France, and 

himself, in person, the 14th of July, departed from Dover 

towards Calais, and the next day removed to Morgisen. 

Upon the 26th or the same month, the camp removed to 

high Boulogne, and there encamped on the north-east part 

of the town. Two days afterwards, the watch-tower, 

called the Old-man, was taken, and the day after, base 

Boulogne was won. And upon the 13th of September, 

the town was victoriously conquered by Henry the eighth, 

king of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the 

Faith ; who, upon humble petition made by the French, 

suffered them to depart the town with bag and baggage. 

And in this year were taken by the English fleet 300 and 

odd ships of the French, to the great enriching of this 

nation, and the great impoverishing of theirs. 



naamamm/mnmmt 



raw* 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIRTY-SECOND. 



The death of Henry the ' the lord high admiral, and lord 
eighth. — Edward the sixth protector. — A character of the 
crowned. — A calculation of his ( duke of Somerset. — The death 
r^ign. — Musselborough field of king Edward- not without 
won by the lord protector. — suspicion of poison. — His cha- 
The death of the two brothers, racter, &c. 



THE year following, being the S7(h year of the king's 
reign, upon the 30th ofJune, being Whitsunday, in 
London, was proclaimed a general peace between the two 
kingdoms of England and France, with a solemn proces- 
sion at the time of the proclamation; and that night were 
great bonfires made in the city and suburbs for the celeb- 
ration of the said union. And upon the 21st of August, 
came over from the trench king, monsieur Denebalt x high 
admiral of France, and brought with him the sacre of 
Dieppe, with 12 gallies bravely accommodated, who land- 
ed at the Tower, where all the great ordinance were shot 
off, and he received by many peers of the realm, conveyed 
to the bishop of London's palace, where he rested two 
nights ; and on Monday, the 2Srd of the same month, he 
rode towards Hampton Court, where the king then lay. 
Whom the young prince Edward met with a royal train, 
to the number of 540, in velvet coats, and the prince's 
livery were with sleeves of cloth, of gold, and half the 
coats embroidered ; where were 800 horses, richly capri- 



254: THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

soned, and riders suiting to the state, who brought him to 
the manor of Hampton Court. The next morning, the king 
and himself received the sacrament together in confirmation 
of the late concluded peace. After that were many masks 
and shows, in which, the very torch bearers were apparel- 
led in gold, with costly feasts and banquets, during the 
space of six days; afterwards, with many great gifts gi- 
ven unto him, and his chief followers, he returned to his 
country. 

The next year, being the 38th of the king, upon the 
ninth of January, by the king's express command, was 
hi headed on the Towerhill, that noble and valourous 
gentleman, the earl of Surry, who had engaged his person 
in Picardy, Normandy, Ireland, Scotland, &c. from 
whence he never came but crowned with victory. And on 
the 28th of the same month, the king himself departed the 
world, in the year 1547; whose body was most roj^ally 
intombed at Windsor the 16th of February following. 

King Edward the sixth began his dominion over the 
realm of England the 3 1st of January, in the year of grace 
1547; and upon the 19tli of February ensuing, he rode 
with his uncle, Sir Edward Seymour, lord governor and 
protector, and duke of Somerset, with the nobility of the 
land, from the Tower through the city of London, and so 
to Westminster, and was annointed and crowned by Dr. Tho- 
mas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, who afterwards 
administered unto him the sacraments, with other divine 
ceremonies, according to the Protestant reformed church. 
Of this king's birth and reign it was thus calculated : 

" By birth a Ccesar, and in hopes as great, 
Shall next ascend unto th' Imperiall seat. 
Who, 'ere mature, (cropt in his tender bloome) 
Shal more against, then Ccesar could for Rome. 
He. th' Aristocracy Monarchall makes: 
This from the triple Crowne the Scepter takes. 
Upright he shall between two Bases stand, 
One in the sea fixt, the other on the land. 
These shall his pupillage strongly maintaine, 
Secure the continent and scoure the maine. 
But these supporters will be tane away 
By a Northumbers Wolfe, and Suffolks Gray. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 255 

Then fall must this faire structure built on high, 
And th' English, like the Roman Ccesar die." 

In his first year, Sir Thomas Seymour, the king's uncle, 
brother to the duke of Somerset, being lord high admiral, 
by the vice admiral, called Sir Andrew Dudley, having 
no other vessels but the Paunce and the Hart, and these 
singly manned; there was a great conflict at sea with three 
tali Scottish ships, (in the narrow seas) doubly manned, 
and trimmed with great ordinance ; notwithstanding 
which, he took them, and brought them into Orwell haven, 
where he had good booty ana store of prisoners. 

And the same year, in August, the lord protector, the 
duke of Somerset, with the earl ot Warwick, and others, 
marched with a noble army into Scotland, and not far 
from Edinburgh, at a place called Musselboreugh, the 
English and Scotch hosts met; where between them was 
fought a bloody and cruel battle, in which, in the end, the 
English were victors; and in which were slain of the Scots 
14,000, and prisoners taken, of lords, knights, and gentle- 
men, to the number of 1,500. This year also was ordain- 
ed that the communion should be received in both kinds; 
and at that time, Stephen Gardner, bishop of Winchester, 
for opposing the same, was commanded to the Tower. 
Commandment was also ^iven.to a 'l curates of every 
parish church throughout England ; that no corpse should 
be buried before six o'clock in the morning, nor after six 
at night; and that when any died, the bell should ring 
three quarters of an hour at least. 

In this interim, the two great dukes of Northumberland 
and Suffolk, Dudley and Gray, privately murmurinof. 
and openly maligning that the king's two uncles should 
bear such great authority in the kingdom, by which their 
gloiies seemed not only eclipsed, but quite darkened ; the 
elder brother commanding the land, the younger the sea; 
the one lord protector, the other lord high admiral, so that 
the whole dominion and sovereignty of the kingdom, 
(the king's name excepted) was divided between them. 
And further, considering that it was in vain for them to at- 
tain to their own ambitious ends, but by sundering this frater- 
nal tie y and unloosing this gordian knot of consanguinity, 
which had so long inseparably continued between them. 



256 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

They therefore projected among themselves, how this 
(almost impossible thing) might be brought to pass ; and 
doubting the event, if they should attempt to work by their 
servants, as to corrupt them with bribes, or the like ; they 
therefore took a nearer and more safe course to practise it 
by their wives, and to draw the balance from out of their own 
bosoms. And most successively to their purpose thus it 
happened. 

Sir Thomas Seymour, lord high admiral, having married 
the queen dowager, (whose good fortune, it was, of all the 
rest of the king's wives to survive her husband) contested 
with her sister-in-law for precedence and priority of place. 
To which the protector's wife standing upon her preroga- 
tive, could by no means be won to give way. This emu- 
lation between the two sister, fitly soiling the dukes' pur- 
poses, (forthe one challenged the right hand, as once being 
queen, and the other claimed it as wife to the present pro- 
tector.) To this new kindled fire, the two dukes brought 
fuel, Dudley encourageth the one secretly, Gray the other 
privately, so that the wives set the husbands at odds by 
taking their parts, so that by the instigation of those emu- 
lous and incensed ladies, a mortal haired grew between the 
two brothers, insomuch that in the third year of the king, 
the admiral was questioned forthe ill managing his office, 
and sundry articles preferred in court against him, so that 
he was condemned in parliament, and his head struck off; 
the protector, his brother, signing the warrant for his 
death. 

The one being thus removed, there w r as the less difficul- 
ty to supplant the other; for in the same month of Feb- 
ruary, in which the admiral lost his head, was the protec- 
tor committed to the Tower by the lords of the council, 
of which the two dukes were chief; and many articles of 
treason and ill-government of the state commenced against 
him. But about a year after his confinement, by his 
submission to the lords, and intercession made for him 
by the king upon the sixth of February he was released, 
and enjoyed his former offices and honours; but all this 
was but a lightning before death, for his two great and 
potent adversaries still prosecute their malice against him, 
insomuch that not long afterwards, calling him to a second 
account; when he had nobly acquitted himself at the ba,r 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES, 257 

of all (reason objected against him, he was in the guild* 
hall of London, (not by a jury of his peers) by 12 men 
convicted and condemned of felony; for which, on a 
scaffold on Tower hill he suffered death, verifying what 
was before predicted of the young king, 

fl Upright he shall betweene two Bases stand, 
One in the sea fixt, th' other en the land. 
These thai! his pupillage strongly maintaine, 
Secure the continent, and scoure the maine. 
But these supporters will be tane away 
By a Northumbers Wolfe, and Sujfolks Gray. 

It is so manifest that it needs no comment. 

This Edward Seymour was (the son of Sir Edward Sey- 
mour) knighted by Henry the eighth, who had married 
the lady Jane, his natu ^1 sister. He afterwards created 
him viscount Beauchamp in the year 1536, and the year; 
following earl of Hertford; after that be was installed 
knight of the garter, made lord great chamberlain of Eng- 
land, and one of the honourable privy council ; much fa- 
voured of the eighth Henry, who, in his last testament, insti- 
tuted him one of the chief of his lGe^ecutors. After this, kin^ 
Edward created him baron de sancto mauro ; then duke 
of Somerset. He was next by a general voice of parliament, 
made protector over the king's person, and of all his king- 
doms and dominions, governor, and lord general of the king's 
forces by land and sea. He was moreover lord high treasurer 
and earl martial of England, captain of the two islands of 
Guernsey and Jersey, and chancellor of the university of 
Cambridge. In all which offices and dignities he demean- 
ed himself with such honourable bounty and singular pie- 
ty, that some have not doubted to catalogue him amongst 
our English martyrs. 

But to return to the history. By this protector's means, 
who was a constant protestant, images were pulled down 
through all churches of England; marriage of priests 
made lawful by parliament, and Dr. Bonner, with other 
Romish prelates deposed from their bishopricks, and others 
of the reformed church supplied their places, making 
good what was before calculated of the young king, 

k & 



258 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

u By birth a Ccesar^ and in hopes as great, 
Shalt next ascend unto th' Imperial! seat. 
Who, 'ere mature, (cropt in his tender bloome) 
Shal more against, then Ccesar could for Rome. 
He, th' Aristocracy Monarchal! makes: 
This from the triple Crowne the Scepter takes." 

Tin's needs some explanation. He is called young Ccesar, 
as being* produced unto the world by the cutting or rip- 
ping up of bis mother's womb, from which the great Ro- 
man, Julius, (born after the same manner) had added to 
him the name of C^sar ; which title be left as hereditary 
to all the succeeding emperors after him ; who, as he redu- 
ced the aristocracy, which was the government of the senate 
and optimate into one entire monarchial diadem, placing 
the empire in Home. So, of the contrary, this young 
king, from the great Pontifex of Rome, who in time 
wearing a triple diadem, and thereby challenging power 
in heaven potently, upon earth regency, and predominance 
over hell; and moreover, making earthly kings and empe- 
rors to acknowledge unto him a pre-eminence and supre- 
macy, making them to kiss his feet, with other servile 
offices He, by opposing this sovereignty, and shrinking 
his head out of so extreme a servitude, may be truly said 
to have done more against Rome in his pious devotion, 
than the Roman Julius did for Rome in his^reatma^nanimi- 
ty and prowess. 

Now,to prove that king Edward wasa Caesar. The young 
lady Jane Seymour, being at Hampton Court when the 
time of her teeming came, and there was small hope of her 
delivery, news was brought to the king that her throes 
were violent upon her, and that the~ infant could not be 
brought into the world but by the death of the mother, for 
by preserving the one, the other must needs perish. When 
his pleasure was demanded what was to be done in so strict 
an exigent, be commanded that the child should be cut 
from the womb, saying, " Sure 1 am that 1 can have more 
wives, but uncertain 1 am whether 1 can have more chil- 
dren. 

Upon the sixth of July, in the year 1553, John Barnes, 
mercer, being lord mayor, and William Garret, and John 
Mainard, sheriffs; departed out of this world, at Greenwich, 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 259 

king Edward, the sixth of that name, in the 16th year 
of his age, and seventh of his reign, whom some say, died 
of a pleurisy, others that he was poisoned by a nosegay. 
For it was generally murmured by the people, that the uncles 
being removed, the nephew could not long remain after- 
wards ; which best complies with the former calculation, 
which saith : 

tl Then fall must this faire structure built on hie, 
And th' English like the Roman Caesar die." 

The first made away in the court, the other murdered in 
the capital. Of which hopeful and toward prince, his cha- 
racter is left to future memory. 

He was careful for the establishing of the protestant 
religion; to have it flourish through all his dominions. 
The mass he abolished, and images demolished ; the learn- 
ed men of his time he greatly encouraged, moving them to 
interpret the scripture to the capacities of the vulgar; and 
commanded the liturgy and common prayers to be read in 
the English tongue. 

In his minority, he had maturity of judgement, and was 
literated in all the liberal arts ; of a retentive memory. He 
knew all the ports and havens in England, Scotland, France, 
and Ireland ; being as well acquainted with their scites as 
their names. In the Greek, Latin, French, Italian, and Spa- 
nish tongues, extraordinary versed ; in logic, moral philo- 
sophy, and the mathematics, conversant; in Cicero, Livy, 
Tacitus, and Salust, frequent: Hesiod and Sophocles he 
understood, and was able to interpret Iscorates from the 
original. He was wisely, witty, even to wonder, his body 
featured, and his mind modelled almost to miracles. Re- 
ligiously he lived, devoutly he died. That he breathed 
his last is certain, but where his body lies buried, to us 
most uncertain. 



K k2 



•*■*«¥ 



/ 

CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIRTY-THIRD, 



The lady Jane proclaim- 
ed queen. — Northumberland's 
commission to suppress the 
JadyMary. — He is arrested for 
high treason. — The coronati- 
on of queen Mary. — A predic- 
tion of her reign. — The Ro- 
mish religion restored. — The 
death of Northumberland. — 



Of Suffolk.— Of Guilford 
Dudley. — Of the lady Jane 
Grey. — Her character, — The 
death of Cranmer, Ridley, nnd 
Latimer. — The life of cardinal 
Pole, twice elected Pope — 
His coming into England- 
Created arch-bishop of Canter* 
bury. — His death. 



THE two ambitious dukes of Northumberland and 
Suffolk, thinking to disable the two sisters, Mary and 
Elizabeth, the daughters of king Henry VIII. from any law> 
ful claim to the crown, as reputing them no better than bas- 
tards, had made a match between Guildford Dudley, the 
fourth son to Northumberland, and the lady Jane Gray, 
sole daughter to the duke of Suffolk ; and pretending that 
king Edward, in his last will, nominated her heir apparent 
to the crown after his death, they caused the said lady Jane, 
presently upon the king's death, June the 10th, to be pro- 
claimed queen, and true and immediate heir to the king- 
dom, in sundry places of the city of London, which 
proved to her utter ruin. 



JL 



lie lady Mary being at that time at Frarningham, in 
Suffolk, was much troubled at the report of such disastrous 
news, which the more perplexed her, because she had 
intelligence that it was done by the nobility and the whole 



THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 261 

body of the council ; to whom the Suffolk men assembling, 
(as not liking such shuffJing in state) proffered her their 
assistance to possess her in her lawful anrl inclubitate inhe- 
ritance. Before which time, the great duke of Northum- 
berland, having a large commission granted him by the 
lords of the council, and signed with the great seal of Eng- 
land, had raised an army with intent both to suppress and 
surprize the lady Mary; which was no sooner advanced, 
and the rising of the Suffolk men bruited at court. But 
the lords in general, either for fear of the commons, or 
repenting them of the injury done to the rightful inheri- 
trix, they sent a countermand after the duke to lay by his 
arms; who, when he thought himself in his greatest power, 
being abandoned by the nobility, he was also forsaken of 
the commons, so that at Cambridge, he, with his sons, and 
some few servants, were left alone. Who thinking thereby to 
make his peace, in the open market-place, proclaimed the 
lady Mary, queen of England, France, and Ireland, de- 
fender of the faith, &c. Notwithstanding which, in King's 
College, he was arrested of high treason, and from thence 
brought up to London, and committed to the Toww. 

Then was the lady Mary generally received as queen, 
and so proclaimed through the kingdom the 20th of July; 
and the third of August following, she took possession of 
the Tower; and during her abode there, released all the 
Romish bishops there imprisoned. From thence she rode 
in great state towards her palace of Westminster, where 
she was solemnly crowned by Stephen Gardiner, bishop 
of Winchester ; her sister the lady Elizabeth being present 
at her coronation. Of this queen and her reign, it was 
thus predicted : 

* c Then shall the masculine Scepter cease to sway, 
And to a Spinster, the whole Land obey, 
Who to the Papall Monarchy shall restore 
All that thePhaenix had fetcht thence before, 
Then shaibcome in the faggot and the stake, 
And they, of Convert bodies bonefires make. • 
Match shal this Lionesse with Ccesars sonne, 
From the Pontifick sea a Pool shall runne 
That wide shall spread it's waters, and to a flood 
In time shal grow: made red with martyrs blood. 
Men shall her short unprosperous Reigne deplore 
By losse at sea, and damage on the shore: 



262 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

Whose heart being dissected, you in it 
May in large characters find Calice writ." 

Now ceased the heir male to reign, and the sceptre was 
disposed to the female, which was not seen or known since 
long before the conquest, when Bouduca, or as some call 
her Boadicia sovereignized. In the time of Nero Caesar. 
And Sphtsterwns an ancient British title given to the feminine 
sex before king Edgar's reign ; by which name, even prin- 
cesses being convented or summoned to any court are called 
into this day. But to proceed with the history, in the 10th 
day of the month, after her coronation, began a parliament, 
in which, besides the supplanting of the protestant religion, 
which began to be established in the days of king Edward, 
were convicted and attainted of high treason, John, duke 
of Northumberland; Thomas Cranmer, late archbishop of 
Canterbury; Sir Ambrose Dudley, knight; Guildford Dud- 
ley, esquire, and husband to the lady Gray; Sir Andrew 
Dudley, knight, with others, as William, marquis of North- 
ampton; John, earl of Warwick, &c. And the 12th of 
August, were beheaded on the Towerhill, John Dudley, 
duke of Northumberland, Sir John Gates, and Sir Thomas 
Palmer. 

Thus you see the end of Northumberland. If any be 
desirous to know also what became of Suffolk ; I can paral- 
lel him to none more genuine than to the duke of Bucking- 
ham ; he had a Banister, this an Underwood, a servant 
raised by him to a fair revenue, and to whose safeguard 
he had committed his person, who, in a spacious hollow 
tree for some months concealed him, whither he brought 
him meat and drink, with millions of oaths engaged for his 
truth and fidelity ; but being easily corrupted with some 
small quantity of gold, and many large and liberal promi- 
ses, he, like Judas, betrayed his master, and delivered him 
to the noble earl of Huntington, who, with a strong guard, 
brought him through London to the Tower. He was 
afterwards arraigned in the great hall at Westminster, and 
soon afterwards, on the Towerhill, lost his head. 

Yet, probable it was, that the queen had pardoned that 
offence, had he not seconded with another, by confedering 
with Sir Thomas Wyat, of Kent, to interpose her marriage 
with Philip of Spain, son to the emperor; and to that 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 263 

purpose departed secretly into Warwick and Leicester- 
shires, where he knew himself to be best affected, and made 
their open proclamation to keep all strangers from the 
land ; for which he fell into the queen's irreconcileable 
displeasure, which, not only hasted his own end, but the 
deaths of Guilford and the lady Jane, for the statists at 
that time, especially those that were devoted to the Romish 
faction, held it no policy to suffer any of the contrary reli- 
gion to live, especially if they could entrap them in any 
quiddits of law which might be stretched to be made capital. 
Therefore, upon the 12th of February, in the year 1551, it 
being the first day of the week, Guilford Dudley was 
brought to the scaffold upon the Towerhill, where, when 
he had, with all Christian devotion, made his peace with 
heaven, he, with a settled and unmoved constancy, sub- 
mitted himself to the stroke of death, which was given in 
the sight of his excellent spouse, who, to that purpose, was 
placed in a window within (he Tower ; the object striking 
more cold to her heart than the sight of that fatal axe, by 
which she was presently to suffer, which she most patiently 
endured. 

Never was a lady's death more passionately bewailed, 
being remarkable in j udge Morgan, who pronounced the sen- 
tence against her, who presently after fell mad, and in all his 
distracted ravings, cried, " Takeaway the lady Jane, take 
her from me." And in that extreme distemperature, with 
these words in his mouth, ended his life. Some report 
that she was young with child at the time of her suffering; 
bu£ though her Romish opposites were many, and the times 
bloody, Christian charity may persuade they would not 
use such inhumanity, especially against a person of her 
royal blood and lineage. She was an excellent lady, en- 
dued with more virtues and extraordinary endowments 
than is frequently found in that sex ; being a pattern to 
others for true religion and piety, of which her godly 
oration to the people, and holy prayer at her death, extant 
in Mr. Fox's Martyrology, abundantly witnesseth. She 
exceeded not 16 years of age, of an excellent feature, and 
amiable aspect, of learning incredible, in wit incomparable, 
of inforced honours so unambitious, that she never attired 
herself in any regal ornaments, but constrainedly and with 
tears: divers of her Latin verses have been spread to posterity; 
and of her works in the English tongue, an epislle to a 



26^ THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

learned man fallen off from the truth, and turned apostate; 
another epistle to her sister, with a colloquy or reasoning 
with one Freckman, a Romist, about faith and (he sacra- 
ments, &c. 

Soon afterwards followed the deaths of Dr. Cranmer, 
archbishop of Canterbury, (acquitted of treason, and 
condemned of heresy) Nicholas Ridley, late bishop of 
London, and Hugh Latimer, with infinite others; inso- 
much that scarce any city or market-town through the whole 
kingdom, in which some pious professor or other, had not 
felt the scorching of the fire and faggot. 1 should fill 
whole pages to reckon up particulars. (July thus in brief, 
it is observed, that queen Mary's reign was the shortest of 
any prince since the conquest, that wore the crown, (Rich* 
ard the third's only exepted) and that more Christian 
blood was spilt in her few years, (concerning religion and 
matter of conscience) than had been shed in any one 
king's reign since the time of king Lucius, the first estab- 
lisher of Christianity in this his realm of England, which 
recollects the memory of the former prophecy, where he 
speaks of the spinster : 

" Who to thePapall Monarch shall restore, 
All that the Phaenix had fetcht thence before. 
Then shall come in the Faggot and the Stake, 
And they of convert bodies bonerlres make, &c." 

By the Phoenix, meaning king Edward, so termed by 
Hieronymus Gardanus, because he was unparalled in his 
time. And by the convert bodies, those who were conver- 
ted to the retormed and protestant religion, for which 
cause thousands in sundry parts of the kingdom suffered. 
Now why queen Mary was so zealous to propagate the 
Popish faith, it folio wet h next to enquire. She was 
brought tip under her mother's wing, a Spaniard, who 
being of the Spanish bl od, persisted in the Spanish 
belief; but when her mother, after three years divorce 
from the kin<r, expired, she was committed to the guard- 
ianship of Margaret, countess of Salisbury, and daugh- 
ter to George, duke of Clarence, brother to Edward 
the fourth, who died in the Tower. This countess 
had only one son called Reginald Pole, who was of 
great familiarity with the lady Mary in their minority, 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 265 

and devoting himself wholly to the study of the arts, was 
initiated in Magdalen College, Oxford ; bat being a 
very young man, left the university; and having a great 
desire to travel, crossed the seas, and went into Italy. 
Seven years he spent in the academy of Padua, where, en- 
tering into great familiarity with Peter Brent, (chief secre- 
tary to the pope then reigning) he brought him into such 
reputation with his holiness, that in the year 1538, he was 
made cardinal, and employed in embassies both to the 
emperor, and to the French king ; in which negociations 
he is said to have dealt perfidiously with his own liege 
lord and sovereign, king Henry the eighth. (For danger- 
ous is an Englishman being once Italionated.) 

The incensed king not able to reach the son, who was the 
actor, yet, used his power against the mother as an acces- 
sary; who being questioned for sending her son some daily 
supplies of money from England into Italy, was for that 
convicted of treason, and being 80 years of age, was be- 
headed. This cardinal Pole was of the royal blood, as 
lineally descended from George, duke of Clarence, of sin- 
gular learning and approved modesty, insomuch that in 
the twice vacancy of the see of Rome, he was in both 
selected and nominated as pope; but, refusing it as too 
great a charge, (for such was his apology) he rather 
choosed a solitary and sequestered life, and so retired him- 
self into a monastery near Verona, of which (according to 
rumour) he was first founder and patron ; in which he 
spent a great part of his age, as a man exterminated from his 
native country, so continuing the latter part of Henry the 
eight!), and the entire sovereignty of Edward the sixth. 
But queen Mary, his first acquaintance, being invested 
into the English throne, having the sovereign power in her 
own disposal, she sent to call him home, with purpose (as 
it was then rumoured, having the pope's authority to dis- 
pense with all his ecclesiastical dignities) to have made 
him her husband. 

Of which Charles the emperor having notice, partly by 
his power, and partly by his policy, wrought so by his 
engineers, that he was detained in Italy tilt a match was 
fully concluded between his son, prince Philip, and the; 
queen. Which being perfected, and then past prevention, 

L L 



266 THE LIFE OF MERLIN) &C. 

the cardinal was at liberty to dispose of himself. And for 
his great honour, was sent over by the pope, with the tide 
of Legatus a'Latere. At which time, Dr. Thomas Cran- 
mer, was not only suspended, but dispossessed of the arch- 
bishoprick of Canterbury, instead of whom, cardinal Pole 
was installed into that see ; where having been three years 
archbishop, when news was brought him of the death of his 
cousin queen, he the same hour expired, in the 58th year 
of his age, and lieth buried within St. Thomas's chapel, 
in Canterbury church, with this short inscription only: 

Deposition Cardinalis Poli. 

The prophecy aiming at him, where it saith: 

4< From thePontificke Sea a Poole shall runne, 
That wide shall spread its waters, and to a flood 
In time shall grow, made red with Martyrs blood. " 

The next chapter leads me to the entrance of prince 
Philip, son to the emperor Charles, into the land, and his 
marriage with queen Mary, &c. 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIRTY-FOURTH. 



King Philip's reception in 
the land. "—Presented with the 
garter. — He is made king of 
Naples and Jerusalem. — The 
great solemnity of the king 
and queen's marriage at Win- 
chester. — Their titles. — Their 
riding through London. — 
The queen rumoured to be 
with child. — King Philip's 



wily proceedings. — He favour. 
eth the lady Elizabeth.— 
He leayeth the land. — Queen 
Mary's discontent at his depar- 
ture. — The loss of Calais. — 
The death of queen Mary.— 
The inauguration of the lady 
Elizabeth. — A prophecy of her 
birth and reigu. 



TO ommit all the insurrections (in her time) of the 
discontented commons, as that of Sir Thomas Wyat, 
in Kent, to keep king Philip out of the land, in which the 
duke of Suffolk was a partisan; with another commotion 
in Devonshire by Gowen and Peter Carow, Giles Cham- 
pernham, and others; with a third about Woodhurst, in 
Sussex, which was soon appeased; a fourth by Udall, 
Throgmorton, Daniel, Peckham, Stanton, &c a fifth by 
Henry Stafford, who took Scarborough castle in the north. 
1 come now to prince Philip, who after all those that in- 
terposed his landing, were cut off, in the year of grace 
1554, the 20th of July, made his safe arival at Southamp- 
ton, where he was honourably received by the greatest part 
of the nobility, and was presented with the order of St. 
George, and the garter, set with rich stones, fastened about 
his leg. Who, before he would enter into any house, went 

L l2 



26S THE LIFE OP MERLIN, 

first info Holy Rood church, which standeth just opposite 
to the Town-hall, where he gave thanks to God tor his 
safe and prosperous arival. And, having spent some half 
an hour in his devotion, he mounted upon a goodly jennet, 
richly caprisoned, (which was that morning sent him by 
the queen) and so rode back towards his lodging, which 
was near unto the Water-gate. 

The Monday following he left Southampton, and attend- 
ed by the lords and gentlemen of England, rode towards 
"Winchester, but, by reason of the great store of rain that 
fell the same day, the journey seemed something unplea- 
sant, but there, about seven o'clock towards night, he was 
inaffivificienfly received, and rode to the church before he 
would see his lodging. Loud music entertained him at 
his alighting, and the bishop of that see, with four others, 
rpet him at ihe church door, attended with priests, singing- 
Hien, and choristers, all in rich coaps, who had three fair 
crosses or crucifixes borne before them. In the first en- 
trance of the church, the priest kneeled down to pray. 
V\ hich done, he arose, and went under an embroidered 
canopy from the west door up to the choir: who, when he 
saw the host, put off his hat, to do it reverence, and then 
entered into a goodly traverse, hung with costly arras, and 
there kneeled again, till Winchester, the chancellor, began 
Te Deum, whom all the choir seconded. That done, lie 
was brought thence by torch-light, and went on foot 
through the cloisters to his lodging, whither the queen's 
guard attended him to a fair house belonging to the dean. 

He was at that time aparelled in a coat or mantle, curi- 
ously embroidered with gold; his hat suitable, and a white 
feather in it, with a rich oriental jewel. All the way as he 
passed, he turned himself to the people on both sides, with a 
pleasant countenance: and after supper, which was about 10 
o'clock, a certain number of the council, by a private way, 
brought him to the queen, who entertained him graciously 
and lovingly. Thev had conference together for about 
half an hour, in the Spanish tongue; which ended, he 
took his leave, and was conducted back to his lodging. 
Upon the Tuesday following, about three o'clock in the 
•lfternoqn", he came from his lodging on foot, attended by the 
lord Steward, the earl of Derby, the earl of Pembroke, and 
other lords and gentlemen, as well strangers as English. 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 



269 



And that day he was attired in a cloak of black Spanish 
cloth, embroidered about with silver, a pair of white 
silk stockings, and the garter of the order about his leg, 
where he shewed himself freely and openly to all men. 
At his entrance into the court, loud music was heard, and in 
the great hall the queen met and kissed him before all the 
people. Then (she taking the right hand) they went to- 
gether, in the presence chamber, and talked under the 
state cloth about a quarter of an hour. He then took 
leave of her majesty, and coming into the open court, the 
pensioners, and yeomen of the guard, stood on both sides 
as far as the gate ; from whence the lords conducted him 
to the cathedral, where he heard even song; >\hich ended, 
they brought him back to his lodging with torch-light, and 
so left him. 

The same night, the emperor sent a message to the 
queen, to give her to understand, that his son was not a 
prince only, but a king of Jerusalem and Naples, with 
other dominions after mentioned in his stile. Upon St. 
James's day, being the 25th of July, about 11 o'clock in 
the morning, the king and queen came from their lodgings 
towards the church on foot, both richly attired in gowns of 
cloth, embroidered with gold, and set with pearl, stones, 
and gems. He with his guard, and she with her's, both 
having a sword borne before them, before her by the earl 
of Derby, before him by the earl of Pembroke. Being 
come unto the church, he went to one altar, and she to 
another, hanged with curtains of cloth embroidered with 
gold, which being afterwards drawn, it was imagined that 
they were shriven ; afterwards, they come from their 
places, and meeting, they very lovingly saluted each 
other, he also being at that time bare headed. 

Then six bishops went to the place prepared for the 
nuptial ceremony, the king standing on the left hand, and 
she on the right; then the lord chancellor asked the banns 
between them, first in Latin, and then in English. The 
ring was a plain hoop of gold, without any stone, for she 
desired to be married as maids used to be of old. The 
nuptials being ended, the king and queen went on hand in 
hand under a sumptuous canopy, by six knights borne 
over them, and two swords carried before them. Coming 
before the altar, they kneeled down; with both of them a 



270 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

lighted tapor in their hands ; then they arose and with- 
drew, she into a traverse on the right side, he into another 
on the left. After the gospel read, they again appeared, 
and kneeled before the altar all the time of mass. Which 
being ended, the king of heralds openly proclaimed 
their majesties king and queen, with these titles following: 

Philip and Mary, by the grace of God, king and queen 
of England, France, Naples, Jerusalem, and Ireland, 
defenders of the faith; king and queen of Spain, Sicilia, 
Leon, and Arragon ; archduke and duchess of Austria ; 
duke and duchess of Millain, Burgundy, and Brabant; 
count and countess of Husburgh, Flanders, and Tyroll; 
lord and lady of the islands of Sardinia, Majorca, Minorca, 
of the Firm land, and the great Ocean sea; palatines of 
Hanault,and the Holy Empire; lord and lady of Freezeland 
and of the isles, and governors of all Asia and Africa. 

The trumpets ceasing, the king and queen came forth 
hand in hand, royally attended, and so went on foot to the 
court, and dined together openly in the ball, at one table. 
Thus you see 

u The Lioness hath matcht with Caesars sonne." 

1 have been the longer in this relation, to shew the mag- 
nificient solemnities of princely nuptials used in those 
times. The 18th of August, the king and queen went to 
Suffolk place, in Southwark, and there dined; after dinner 
they rode together over London bridge, and so passed 
through the city, the streets being hanged sumptuously, 
and divers pageants and shows presented unto them, having 
relation to their persons, and the great joy of the people, 
conceived at their royal marriage, and unity of the nations; 
being afterwards received by the bishop of London into 
the cathedral church of St. Paul with procession. Where 
having done their devotion, they rode on in great state 
towards their palace at Westminster. Then came divers 
ambassadors from several countries; from Russia, Poland, 
Denmark, Hungary, Naples, &c. to congratulate the nup- 
tials of these two potent princes. 

Afterwards it was bruited that the queen was with child, 
for which there was great thanksgiving and prayers 



WITH HIS STRANG* PROPHCEIES. 271 

through all the churches of London, for her safe delivery 
to come, and king Philip choosen to be protector of the 
infant, male or temale, (by a decree in parliament) in 
case the queen should not miscarry in child-birth . But some 
having whispered in his head that he should be deluded 
by a suppositious infant, prepared for that purpose ; and 
loath that a counterfeit should be heir to all his realms and 
dominions, he would not depart the chamber at the time 
of her delivery, by which the plot took no eti'ect, and bred 
some distaste between the king and the queen, Again, to 
second this, the king greatly favoured the lady Elizabeth ; 
and observing what tyranny was used against the dejected 
princess, he began to be somewhat jealous of the English 
nation, and their proceeding in state, apprehending that if 
they insidiated the life of a native, being their queen and 
sovereign's sister; with what small scruple of conscience 
might they aim to supplant him, or any of his followers, 
who were aliens and strangers, which made him so sud- 
denly to forsake the queen and the land ; his excuse being 
to visit his father, the emperor, and to take possession of 
the low countries, to the great sorrow of her majesty, of 
whom he took his leave the fourth day of September. 

In. her days Calais was lost by the English and taken by 
the French, by the ill-management of the state, especially the 
clergy, who in her days swayed all, and were so busied ia 
the butchery and burning of matyrs at home, that the ho- 
nour and state of the kingdom was much neglected abroad; 
which town had 200 and odd years belonged to the crown 
of England, It was first won by Edward the third, the 
eleventh king from William the Conqueror, after a siege 
of eight months, and was lost by Mary, the eleventh from 
the said Edward, in eight days. Who, when she heard 
the town was taken, in a great passion uttered these words, 
c ? The loss of Calais is written in my heart, and may be 
there read when my body is dissected. " Besides martyr- 
dom, in her time was great mortality of people, much 
harm done by lightning and thunder, a great part of her fleet 
suddenly fired ; king Philip's second return into the land, 
and his short sojournment here, ere he left it again. These, 
with other discontents so wrought upon her princely na- 
ture, that verifying the former prediction, which saith : 



272 



THE LIFE OF MERLIX, 



"Men shall her short unprosperous reign deplore, 
By losse at Sea, and damage on the shore: 
Her heart when 'tis dissected, you in it 
May in large Characters read Callis writ*" 

These cogitable remembrances brought her into a con- 
sumption, or (as some say) into a burning fever, so that ia 
the 42nd year, and sixth day of her age, she departed the 
world at the manor of St. James, near Westminster, the 
17th of JNovember, in the year of our blessed Saviour's 
incarnation 1558, after she had reigned five years, four 
months, and 11 days, whose body lieth buried in a 
chapel belonging to the cathedral of St. Peter's church in 
Westminster, in a bare grave, without either tomb or any 
inscription ; either of which might have been some memo- 
rable decorement to adorn her hearse. 

The same day of her death, was proclaimed queen, the 
lady Elizabeth, sister to queen Mary, and daughter to Hen- 
ry the eighth, and the lady Anne Builcn, who was appoint- 
ed by parliament to succeed her sister, dying without 
issue; who shortly came to London, where she was joy ^ 
fully received by all ages, sexes, and degrees; (the Ro- 
mists only excepted) and passing through the city to the 
Tower, she shewed to all her people and subjects, the 
deportment of so sweet and a gracious lady; and they so 
mutual and alternate a joy for her happy and properous 
Inauguration, that it almost wanted precedent. And of 
whom it was thus predicted : 

" Frora th' others ashes shall a Phenix rise, 
Whose birth is thus predicted by the wise, 
Her chief predominant star is Mercury, 
Jove shall with Venus in conjunction be. 
And Sol with them shine in his best aspect: 
With Ariadnes Crown, Astroea deckt, 
Shall then descend upon this terrene stage: 
(Not seen before, since the first golden age) 
Against whom all the Latian Buls shall rore, 
But at Joves aw full summons shall give ore* 
Through many forges shall this metall glide 
Like gold, by fire repur'd, and seven times tryde 
Her bright and glorious Sun-beams shall expel! 
The vain clouds of the Candle, Booke, and Bell* 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 273 

Domestick plots, and stratagems abroad, 
French machins, and the Italianated god, 
The Spanish Engine, Porteguized Jew: 
The Jesuitick mine, and politick crew 
Of home-bred Vipers, let their menaces come 
By private pistoll, or by hostile Drum, 
Though all these Dogs chace her with open cry, 
Lire shall she Iov'd, and fear'd, then Sainted die." 

Concerning the astrological calculation of her birth, in 
her it proved most infallibly true; for where Mercury's 
star is predominant, it portends a rare acuteness and sharp- 
ness of wit, a volubility in speech and retentiveness of me- 
mory, with a natural inclination to acquire learning and 
knowledge. Jupiter's star infuseth honour, state, power, 
and majesty. And Venus feature, beauty, affability, and 
clemency ; both of which being at that time in conjunction, 
conferred their general gifts upon her in particular; and 
Sol shining at the same hour, with a favourable aspect 
ratified the former, of which part of the prophecy there 
needs no further explanation. 

To write largely of her troubles, being a princess, or of 
her rare and remarkable reign after she was queen, 1 should 
butfeast you with diettwice dressed, having myself publish- 
ed adiscourse of the first, from her cradle to her crown; and 
in another bearing title of the Nine Worthy Women, she 
being the last of them in time and place, though equal to 
any of the former, both in religious virtue, and all mascu- 
line magnanimity. And yei^ because the present occasion 
enforceth it, I will give you only a recapitulation in brief of 
those passages which were at large related in the former, 
which I refer to the following chapter. 



M M 



MnanaennMai 



■ 9UWJH''. JJ" ' II U ■ >.H 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIHTY-FIFTH. 



A brief nomination of her I remembrance of the prime pas. 
troubles, wrought by the po- sages in her reign. — -The former 
pish clergy. — Her passage prediction fulfilled. —Her death 
through London to her coro- ! — Other predictions, fathered 
nation, with the speeches spo- upon Merlin, explained, &c. 
kea in the pageants.— A short 




H£ was was born the seventh of September, and bap- 
tized the third day following; in the friars church at 
Greenwich; her god-father' was Thomas Cranmer, arch- 
bishop of Canterbury; her god-mothers, the dutchess of 
Norfolk, and marchioness of Pembroke, both widows. At 
her birth, Mary, the eldest daughter to the king, by queen 
{Catherine, was disabled of any claim to the crown, and 
his heirs bv queen Anne Bulicn admitted, during" her 
childhood, she came not near her sister, but was brought 
up in the Protestant faith, and to her brother Edward much 
endeared. Her uncle, the protector, brought her suitors 
of honourable quality in her minority, whom she refused 
with great modesty. At queen Mary's coronation, she 
graced her with her company, but soon afterwards confi- 
ned her at the instigation of the clergy; no insurrection in 
her sister's time, to which they would not have made her 
accessary, as that of Wiat's in Kent, the Carowes in De- 
vonshire, TbrogmorUm's, &c. for which she was by them 



THE LIFE OF MERLINj &C 9 275 

maliciously questioned, but, by the power of heaven, mira* 
curously acquitted; from Ashrege she was sent for to London 
— from thence committed to the Tower — her barge grating 
on the arches by the way — her landing at the traitors 7 
stairs— her close imprisonment there— her dangers in being 
conveyed thence — her train untutored soldiers — her bond- 
age under Benningfield— his fury at Woodstock, and the 
firing of her lodgings — a private warrant for her death 
accidentally discovered, and by king Philip prevented . 
Bat these with infinite others appear, 

ix That against her the Laiian Buls did rore, 
But hy Joves awfull power at length, give o're. 5 ' 

This hath not only reference to her pupilage, but the 
time of her principality, in which the Latian Bulls, mean- 
ing the bulls of pope Pius Quintus, so raged in the land, 
that they deposed her from the crown as an heretic, and 
released her subjects from their allegiance. All which, 
by the power of God, her chief and only supporter, proved 
no other than flashing false fires, and words vainly uttered 
against the wind. But now Astrcea decked in Ariadnes* 



crown 



11 Discends again upon tins terrene stage, 
Not seen before since the first golden age." 

Astrcea, in whom is figured justice, (and here queen. 
Elizabeth is personated) borrowing Ariadnes's crown, 
which is one of the celestial constellations, who left the 
world in Saturn's reign, called the golden age, when the 
seven deadly sins began first to peep into the world, and 
claim chief predominance on earth. Who now, at this 
restoration of true religion, is said to descend from her 
place in the Zodiac, where she sat constelled by the name 
of Virgo, and be tarrassed over this blessed queen's tribu- 
nal, in which all justice (with mer$ mixed) was continu- 
ally exercised. 

I come now to her passing through the city. At her 
first coming forth from her lodging in the Tower, before 
she would suffer herself to be mounted in her chariot, she 

m m 2 



276 THE LIFE OF MERLIST, 

devoutly lifted up her eyes and hands towards heaven, 
speaking these words : " My God, I thank thee, who hast 
been so merciful as to spare me to see this joyful and bless- 
ed day ; and 1 confess that thou hast dealt as mercifully 
and miraculously with me, as thou didst with thy faithful 
servant Daniel, whom thou didst save from the lion's den; 
for so was 1 distressed, and by thee so delivered; to thee 
therefore, and the® only, be thanks, honour, and praise for 
evermore. Amen." 

The first pageant to entertain her was at Fanchurch, 
near unto which was placed a stately scaffold, with 
a curious consort of sweet sounding instruments, upon 
which stood a young man of good aspect, and gorgeously 
apparelled, ready with a speech in Latin, in the city's 
behalf, to give her welcome; who seeing him preparing 
for that purpose, commanded her chariot to stay, and 
beckoning with her hand to the people for silence, he spake 
to her in Latin, as followeth : 

Urbs tua, quce ingressu dederit tibi munera prima. 
O Regina, 6?c. 

Which, for the more general understanding, I deliver 
you thus interpreted into our vulgar tongue* 

Behold, O queen, what to thy great renown. 
Thy city doth present thee, two things are, 
Instead of gifts, to guide thee to thy crown: 
JLoud tongues, and loyal hearts without compare. 
Their tongues thy welcome in loud tones proclaim 
Their hearts' rejoice when they but hear thy name* 

Then welcome gracious sovereign: happy we % 
And above hope blessed to behold this day, 
As our tongues speake, our hearts with them agree, 
And what save welcome can we think or say? 
Rich, poor, young, old, who all these places fill, 
Have both in tongue and heart your welcome still. y 

At the conclusion of this speech, the people made a loud 
acclamation, evary one crying, " God save queen Eliza- 
beth," with other zealous wishes, as their fancies led them. 
Here was observed her constant attention to what was deli- 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 277 

vered, with a change of countenance when any phrase re- 
flected upon her own private person, and thereby her 
great courtesy and clemency in giving the people public 
thanks for their so hearty votes and wishes. 

Thence she removed forward to Gracious-Street, where 
was erected a very sumptuous structure, extended from one 
side of the street to another, curiously vaulted below, and 
decorated with battlements above; it had three ports, over 
the middlemost were advanced three several stages, one 
degree above each other. On the lowest was a seat roy- 
al, in which were placed two persons in rich robes of state, 
the one representing Henry the seventh, the other thelady 
Elizabeth, his wife. He (being of the house of Lancaster) 
invironed with a branch of red roses, and she, being of the 
house of York, inclosed with a branch of white roses. 
Out of these two, being of divers colours, sprung two 
branches of damask, or white intermingled with red, which 
were directed upwards to the second stage, where sat 
environed, one with a diadem upon his head, personating 
king Henry the eighth, (her father) and a second person- 
ating queen Anne JBullen, (her mother) In a third degree 
surmounting their heads, to which the former branch 
reached, ^at one resembling her majesty's person. The 
motto inscribed was " The uniting of the two houses of 
Lancaster and York." The speech directed to her being 
to this purpose : 

Uii quos jungit idem solium, quos annnhts idem 
Hcec albente nitens, ille rubente rosa, 3?c. 

Those princes that upon this state are seen, 
One with the red rose, th y other with the white, 
Are the seventh Henry and his royal Queen, 
One mariage Ring, one throne doth them unite* 

Heir to the house of Lancaster, the King: 
The Queen to York: both in one blood combined. 
From these king Henry (st.Wd the eighth) did springy 
The seat aloft is to your place assigned. 

(O royal Queen) and as all civill rears 
Ijong reigning, did in their uniting cease, 
So may you live free from domestickjars, 
Amongst us stiVdihe Queen of prosperous peace. 



278 THE LIFE OP MERLIN, 

There were, moreover, divers Latin sentences inscribed 
upon several labels, persuading to unity and concord, 
which foi brevity's sake I here omit. 

Thence she passed to Cornhill, where stood another 
pageant composed with three open gates; over the middle 
part thereof sat one magnificiently enthroned, figuring her 
royal person. In the frontispiece was written in large 
characters, u The seat of worthy government;" which seafc 
was so artificially framed, that it seemed to have no prop 
or stay, on which to subsist. In four several comport- 
ments, stood four reverend persons; one figuring true 
religion, treading upon ignorance and superstition; the se- 
cond stood for the love of subjects to their prince, spurn- 
ing at insolence and rebellion; the third, wisdom tvran- 
nizing over folly and vain-giory; the fourth, justice 
having dominion over flattery and bribery. Divers other 
ingenious fancies there were of virtues and vices, with 
moral sentences inserted and interlaced to adorn the fabric. 
Her royal arms being richly garnished, and set in the 
apex, or top thereof, supported by a lion and a dragon* 
Th6 speech being to this effect : 

Qua subnixa alti solio regina superba est, 
' ^iffiS^ tm sanctai principis Alma refert. 

Behold* O queen, thy picture in this frame. 
Richly htthrond to celebrate thy name. 
Whilst true Religion in thy Reign shall tread 
On ignorance and superstition's head, 
Whilst subjects /ore, rebellion shall distress, 
And ovtrtumour* d insolence make less; 
Whilst justice keeps an incorrupted place, 
To have all flattery and bribes in chace, 
Whilst zcisdom, ana d with vowes devout and holy, 
Shall haze a power above o stent and folly; 
Whilst these continue (which we much desire) 
So long thy people shall thy Reign admire. 

To this she answered., that site had taken notice of their 
good meaning towards her, and most graciously promised 
her best endeavour for the continuance and encouragement 
of those virtues, and suppressing of the said vices* Passing 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 27$ 

from tbence to Soper-iane end, where stood another sump- 
tuous and goodly pageant, spreading from one side of the 
street to the other, being raised three degrees or stories high; 
in the upper sat one child, in the second three, and in the 
third and lowest four, representing the eight beatitudes. 
The following speech was delivered to her in Latin : 

We that thy great afflictions late have seen. 
Acknowledge thou art blessed eight times (O Queen) 
Blest hast thou beefy because so poor in spirit. 
And therefore thou a kingdom dost inherit. 
Bless' d, for thou mourned hast, and therefore see 
Great comforts are prepared now for thee. 
Bless' d, for thy meekness next with thoughts dhine $ 
Therefore this earth from henceforth shall be thine. 
Hunger and thirst for godlinesse thou hast 
Suffered, now all good things shall please thy taste. 
Bless' d, since to allth' art merciful and kind. 
Therefore thou mercy shall hereafter find. 
Blessed, because pure in heart, therefore thy grace 
Shall be to look thy Maker in the face, 
Bless'd, as contentions having reconciled, 
All peace- makers, God's children shall be stil'd* 
Bless' dart thou, since for righteousness' s sake y 
Thou persecution suffered hast, to make 
Thy patience greater, thy reward more strong, 
For to all such salvation doth belong. 

At the conclusion of this speech, the people wished 
all together, with one general vote, these blessings abun- 
dantly tcf fall upon her, whom she much thanked, and past 
on to the standard in Cheap, which was garnished with 
divers banners, penons, and streamers, and upon it placed 
a noise of trumpets, the cro?^ being very beautifully trim- 
med : upon the porch of St. Peter's church door, stood 
the waits of the city, with cornets and hautboys, and play- 
ed loud music. Moving onward, she espied another pa- 
geant erected at the Little Conduit in the upper end of 
Cheap, and demanded what it might signify; one told her 
majesty, that there Time was placed. Time, replied she, 
and Time, I thank my God, haih brought me hither ; and 
being further informed that the English Bible was there to 
be delivered unto her by Truth, the daughter of Time, she 



280 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

answered, she was beholding to the city for that present 
above all others, which she would maintain with the best 
blood that ran in her royal veins, and commanded Sir 
John Parrot, one of the knights that held the canopy, to 
fetch it from the child ; but, understanding that it was to 
be let down by a silken string, she caused him to stay, 
and proceed no further. Then met her the lord mayor 
and the aldermen. 

There the recorder made a learned speech, and delivered 
unto her withal a purse of crimson satin, richly embroidered, 
and in it a 1,000 marks in gold, which she received with 
her own hands; and to his speech she made answer as 
follow eth : 

<c 1 thank my lord mayor, his brethren, and you all. 
Where your request is that I should continue your good 
lady and queen, be assured I will be as good and gracious 
unto you as ever a princess was to her people; no will in 
rae shall be wanting, and I persuade myself, no power 
shall be deficient to provide for the safety and security of 
you all, for which I shall not spare my best blood. God 
thank you all." The Bible being presented unto her, and 
all the pertinences of that show being past, coming over 
against Paul's school, one of the scholars delivered her a 
Latin oration, with divers Latin verses. The oration 
began, PJiillosophus Me divinus Plato, fyc. and the 
verses, 

Anglia nunc tandem plaudas fleeter e, resulta, 8?c. 

It would require too long a time to interpret them. She 
passed thence through Ludgate, which was gorgeously 
beautified and adorned, where were trumpets, cornets, 
shalms, and hautboys ; and t! once into Fleet -Street, where, 
at the conduit, she was received by the fifth and last 
pageant, in which was expressed Debora, the judgess, and 
restorer of the house of Israel. At St. Dunstan's church 
stood the children of the hospital, and by one of them a 
speech delivered unto her, to which she attentively listen- 
ed, and promised to be their future benefactress. Upon 
Temple Bar were placed the two giantlike figures of 
Corinasus and Gogmagog, holding a table wherein the 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 281 

effects of all the former pageants were in Latin inscri- 
bed. Thence she departed towards Westminster, where 
she was the next day, being the J 5th of January, with ail 
royal solemnity crowned. 

ii Thus Sol shines on her with his best aspect, 
With Ariadnes Crown, Astrsea elect, 
Doth now discend upon this terrene stage, 
Not seen before since the first golden age. 
Through many forges ditf this metal] glide, 
Like gold by fire repur'd, and seven times tryde." 

In regard that her inimitable reign and government, hath 
so oft, and amply, so largely and learnedly, both in the 
Latin and the English tongue, been voluminously dis- 
coursed, 1 will only present you with a table of their tract- 
ates and treatises, as a brief register, to prompt the reader's 
remembrance: as first, by refusing a marriage with herbrother 
in law, Philip, king of Spain, she made him her public and 
professed enemy — that the French, animated by the Gui- 
sians, in the right of Mary, queen ot France and Scotland 
would have invaded her kingdom — that Spain, France, 
and Scotland, all, and at once combined against her — the 
thundering bull of Pius Quintus, which acquitted all her 
subjects from their allegiance — rebellions in the north — 
duke Dalva's attempts in the low countries — Pools and 
Caere's conspiracies — John of Austria, from Spain — Stuk- 
ley in Ireland — Saunders and Sam Joseph us — Desmond 
and Fitzmorris — Paget, Throgmorton, and A rondel JBer- 
nardine, Mendoza, and cardinal Allan, the Spanish xlrma- 
da, stiled Invincible — the 14 traitors — Englefield and 
Ross Spanified; Parry, with his pistol, Italianated ; Au- 
bespinaeus and Trappius, his secretary, Frenchified; Wal- 
pool, the Jesuite, Lopez, the Jew, and Squire, who would 
have poisoned her saddle's pummel, &c. These prove 
w hat was before by the prophet predicted : 

c< Her bright and glorious Sunbeams shall expell 
The vain clouds of the candle, booke and bell, 
Domestick plots and stratagems abroad, 
French machins and the Italianated god, 
The Spanish Engins, Porteguized Jew. 
The Jesuitick mines, and politick crew 

N N 



£82 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, &C. 

Of home-bred Tray tors, let their menaces come 
By private pistcll, or by hostile drum/' Sec, 

Yet, notwithstanding, over these and many others 
(strengthened and protected by the hand of the Almighty) 
she was miracurously victorious, whose fame can never 
fail, or her memory perish, and therefore 1 draw my pre- 
sent conclusion from the premises. 

<; Though all these Dogs chace her with open cry; 
Live shaii she fear'd and lov'd, then Sainted die." 

Many other prophecies have been dispersed abroad 
under the name of Merlin, pf which I will give you the 
taste of one only, and that is this: 

(i When Hempe is ripe and ready to pull, 
Then Englishman beware thy scuil." 

In this word Hempe be five letters, H, E, M, P, E; 
now, by reckoning the successive princes from Henry the 
eighth j this prophecy is easily explained. H, sijrnifieth 
Kenry, before-named; E, Edward, his son, the sixth of 
that name; M, Mary, who succeeded him ^ P, Philip of 
Spain, who, by marrying queen Mary, during the jime of 
her life, participated with her in the English diadem ; 
lastly, by E, queen Elizabeth, after whose death there was 
great fear that some troubles might have risen about the 
crown, or that king James, her successor, of like blessed 
memory, might have come in alter an hostile manner, aud 
so to have made that good : 

u Then Englishman beware thy scull." 

Yet proved this augury irne^ though not according to 
the former expectation or imagination, for after his happy 
and peaceable proclamation and inauguration, there was 
great mortality, not in London only, but through the whole 
kingdom, from which the nation was not quite clean in 
seven years afterwards, 



■. i^ak^ua t 



. i ■ i I y i »*vrm l te tmm&mBB*emsasta&mKwmmmBMaum&MaBU&&K^SiamamsaBaBaB&B**m*rnB£vm&.i>*. ■-!_ . i — fr 



CONTENTS OF CHAPTER THIRTY-SIXTH, 



The title of king James to the 
crown.— -His coming into Eng- 
larui. — A prophecy of his reign 



epitaph on prince Henry.-— 
One on the duke of Richmond 
and Lenox.' — Another on queen 



-The gun-powder treason, j Anne. — An epitaph upon king 
and who the conspirators were, James. — Charles proclaimed 
— The king of Denmark twice j king — His father's funeral, 
cometh into England. — An { &c. &c. 



|~ TPON Thursday, being the 24th of March, about two 
%^J o'clock in the morning, died queen Elizabeth, of bless- 
ed memory, at her palace of Richmond, aged 70 years, and 
having reigned 44 years, five months, and odd days; and the 
same day, about 11 o'clock in the forenoon, was proclaim- 
ed James, the sixth king of Scotland, king of England, 
Scotland, France, and Ireland, at the high cross in Cheap- 
side, with the title of Defender of the Faith, being lineally 
descended from Margaret, eldest daughter to king Henry 
the seventh, by Elizabeth his wife, who was the eldest 
daughter to king Henry the fourth; the same Margaret 
was married to James, the fourth of that name, king of 
Scotland, iri the year of grace 1503, who had issue James 
the fifth, who was father to Mary, queen of Scotland, 
mother to James the sixth, monarch of Great-Britain, and 
king of France and Ireland. Of whom, ere I further 

N*N 2 



284 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

proceed to speak any more, let me acquaint you with o»e 
ihing most remarkable, namely, how ominous the Thurs- 
day hath been to Henry the eighth, and to all his posteri- 
ty, for he himself died upon Thursday the 28th of Janua- 
ry; his son, king Edward the sixth, on Thursday the 
sixth of July; queen Mary, on Thursday the 17th of 
November, and qu^en Elizabeth on Thursday the 24th of 
March. But 1 return to king James, and the prediction 
made of him and his prosperous reign : 

Ci On Boreas wings then hither shall be borne, 

Through Week, o're Tweed a Princely Unicorn 

Who brought into the world, his own fair crest, 

A rampant Lion figured on his brest, 

And to his Armes six Lions more shall quarter 

With six French Flowers inviron'd with the Garter, 

Joyning {by fates unchangable dispose) 

The Northern Thistle to the Southerne Rose, 

He shall the true Apostolike Faith mayntain, 

With pious zeale: During the blessed Reigne 

Of this faire sprig deriv'd from Richmond's stock, 

No Noble head shall stoop unto the block. 

\et shall from th' old Lupanar Wolves be sent 

To undermine both Crown and Government, 

Striving in HeH to register their names, 

By blowing up the State in powder flames. 

Ah (wo the while) Rebellion, and prestigion. 

Should masque themselves in visors of religion. 

All which the holy book meerly gain says, 

But man's corrupt, God, Just in all his wayes* 

Witnesse the wretched ends, but happy they 

Who keep for that, an annua]] holiday 

That King shall be a second Salomon, 

W T hom all Kings else with wonder gaze upon: 

Who, as to an Oracle to him shall come, 

And when he speaks, be silent all and dumbe, 

Peace shail he keep within him and without him, 

Whilst all lands else combustions are about him. 

Him shall a second issue male succeed, 

Gracious in word, victorious in his deed." 

Though clivers adulterate copies, something alluding to 
this purpose, have been frequent in the mouths of many, 
yet this best agreeing with the author's meaning, ought to 
be first received, which, though it need no explanation at 
aD, yet thus much briefly, for the satisfaction of the vulgar* 



ffXTH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 28S 

Hy Boreas is meant the north-wind, upon whose wings 
the Unicornis borne, is implied king James, who gives 
the Unicorn in heraldry. Through Week over Tweedy 
that is, he came through Berwick, over the river Tweed, 
which parteth England and Scotland. He was also borne 
with the exact portraiture of a Lion upon his breast, pas- 
saging thatthe White Lion of Scotland, should have a prox- 
imity and alliance with the three lied Lions of England, 
quartered with the three Flower de Lyces of France, (the 
noble remembrance of Edward, surnamed the Black Prince, 
son to Edward the third, who, by taking the king prisoner 
in battle, added them to the arms of England) which are 
encompassed by the Garter, an order first made by the 
said Edward the third. These came into the peaceable 
possession of king James, who also brought the Thistle, 
(part of the arms of Scotland) to join with the two united 
Koses, (the white and red) figuring the two divided houses 
©f York and Lancaster, to make one perfect damask. 

I omit the manner of his majesty's coming out of Scot- 
land, and his royal entertainment unto this kingdom, with 
joyful acclamations of the people, and the unanimous 
suffrage cf the whole nation, with his inauguration, coro- 
nation, and solemn and pompous passing from the Tower 
through the city of London to Westminster, with the seve- 
ral pageants and shows; his creating of barons, viscounts, 
and earls, and making of knights and knights baronets ia 
great number, &c. the several ambassadors that came from 
all parts of Christendom, to congratulate his coming to the 
crown ; his peace established with all Christian princes, 
especially with Spain, consisting of 37 articles; the calling 
of his first parliament, and his excellent delivery of his mind 
therein, &c. which would ask too long circumstance. I 
come to the first treason attempted against him, for which 
were arraigned at Winchester, the J5th of November, 
George Brook, brother to lord Cobham, Sir Griffin Mark- 
ham, and Sir Edward Parham, knights; Watson and 
Clarke, Romish priests; Bartholomew Brooksby, esquire^ 
and one Anthony Copley, gentleman, indicted. 

To conspire to kill the Kingy 
To raise Rebellion 9 
To alter Religion, 



§86 TKE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

To subvert the State, 

To procure invasion by Strangers. 

And this was in the first year of his majesty's reign* 
For which were afterwards, also, arraigned and convicted, 
Henry Brook, lord Cobham, late lord warden of the Cinque 
Ports; Thomas, lord Grey, of Wilton, and Sir Walter 
Raleigh, late lord warden of the Swanneries. For which, 
the two priests, Watson and Clarke were executed at 
Winchester, the 29th of November, and George Brook 
was beheaded the fifth of December, but all the rest, by the 
king's gracious clemency had their jives pardoned, though 
some of them were brought to the block, expecting no other 
mercy but what the sharp axe of justice could afford 
them. 

The second treason (of the like to which there was never 
a precedent) was the attempt to blow up the parliament 
house, in which, because it was so long predicted, I could 
desire to be the larger, but that it is of such late memory, 
and new in (lie mouths of all men, and so shall (no doubt) 
continue to ail posterity. The fatal day appointed for 
that horrid and most execrable fact, was the fifth of No- 
vember, in the third year of his majesty's reign. The 
names of the conspirators were Henry Garnet, a principal 
Jesuit resident in England; Robert Catesby, gentleman; 
Francis Tresham, esquire; Thomas Winter, gentleman ; 
Thomas Percy ; John Wright: Guy Vaux, who went 
by the name of John Johnson ; master Percy's man; John 
Grant; Ambrose Rookwood ; Sir Everarcl Digby, &c. 
The discovery thereof was as folio wet h : about ten davs 
before the parliament should begin, the lord fvionteagle, son 
and heir to lord Morley, living in the Strand, a stranger met 
his man in She street, and delivered him a letter to give 
to his lord, the contents were as foiloweth : 

" My lord, out of the love I have to some of your 
friends, I haye care of your preservation ; therefore 1 would 
advise you, as you tender your life, to devise some excuse 
to shift off your attendance on the parliament, for God 
and man have conspired to punish the wickedness of this 
time; and think not slight of this advertisement, but 
retire yourself into your counntry, w here you may expect 
the event in safety; for, though there be no appearance of 
any stir, yet, I say, they shall receive a terrible blow this 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 287 

parliament, and yet they shall not see who hurt them. 
This counsel is not to be contemned and can do you no harm,, 
for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the letter; 
and I hope God will give you grace to make good use of 
it, to whose holy protection I commend you." 

And this came to him without either date or name, in a 
counterfeit and imperfect hand. Which letter coming to 
the king's hand, when none of the council could sound the 
depth thereof, (though they were men of great wisdom and 
experience) his majesty was the first that took notice of 
these words in the letter, " They shall receive a terrible 
blow," which he conjectured to be by a blast of powder, 
and therefore commanded all the places under the 
parliament house to be searched the night before their first 
sitting; which charge was given to Sir Thomas .Knevet, 
gentleman of the king's privy chamber, who, attended with 
a small number, came to the place at midnight, where, at 
the entry, he found Vaux, (Percy's pretended servant) 
booted and spurred, and apprehended him; and having 
removed certain billets and coals laid there under a colour, 
he first discovered one small barrel of powder, and after- 
wards all the rest, being in number 36, with other engines 
fit for that bloody purpose; there was also found in Vaux's 
pockets, a piece of touchwood, and a tinderbox to light it, 
and amatch, which Percy and he had bought the day before 
to try conclusions for the long or short burning of the touch- 
wood, prepared to give fire to the train of powder. Then they 
carried him bound, to be examined before the council, 
who would acknowledge no other name but John Johnson, 
Percy's man, stiffly denying that he knew any complotters 
in that horrible treason, justifying the act good and warrant- 
able by religion, denying the king to be his liege lord, or 
God's annointed, because he held him for an heretic; 
only repenting that the deed was not done, saying that 
good would have concealed it, but the Devil himself only 
discovered it. 

This treason afterwards broke into a practice of rebellion, 
of which the circumstances are too long to stand upon. 
Divers of them being besieged in an house together, as they 
were drying of wet powder, a blunt miller let a coal fall 
amongst it, by which most of them were cruelly scorched; 
tasting themselves, in some measure of that fire-plot prepa* 



288 THE LIFE OP MERLIN, 

red for others. Catesby and Percy, issuing out of the 
house, were shot to death, and their heads afte wards set 
upon the parliament house, and their quarters upon the 
gates of Warwick; after them issued both the Wrights, 
who were slain also; Thomas Winter, hoping the same 
fate, was taken alive. These following were by an ho- 
nourable trial arraigned at Westminster, Thomas Winter, 
late of Hardington in Warwickshire, gentleman ; Guy 
Vaux, late. of London, gentleman; Robert Keyes, late of 
London, gentleman; Thomas Bates, late of London, yeo- 
man ; these were first called to the bar, and alledged against 
them for plotting to blow up the parliament house with 
gun-powder, for taking oath and sacrament for secrecy, for 
hiring an house near unto it, for digging a mine, and 
finding the mine faulty, hiring a cellar for lodging of 
powder, match, and touchwood, into the cellar, to eifect 
their treason, 

Robert Winter, late of Hardington, esquire, eldest bro- 
ther to the aforesaid Thomas ; John Grant, late of Yarth- 
brook, in Warwickshire, esquire; Robert Rook wood, late 
of Sunningfield, in Suffolk, esquire; these were indicted 
for being acquainted with the treason afterwards, for giving 
their full consents thereto, for taking the sacrament for 
secresy, Sir Lverard Digby, late of Galhurst, in Bucking- 
hamshire, knight, for being acquainted with the treason, 
for giving assent, for taking an oath ; all which were con- 
victed, condemned, drawn, hanged, and quartered. Also, 
upon Friday the 28th ot March, in the fourth year of the 
king, Henry Garnet, the provincial or principal of the 
English Jesuits, was arraigned at guildhall, in London, 
upon the same treason, and condemned, and afterwards 
drawn from the Tower to the west end of Paul's; and 
executed like the former traitors. Thus we see: 

i6 That from the old Lupanar Wolves were sent, 
To undermine both crown and government; 
Striving in Hell to register their names, 
By blowing up the State in powder flames/' &c. 

The word Ijiipanar comes from Lupa, a she wolf or 
prostitute, so was the wife of Faustulns, the nurse of the 
two infants, Romulus and Remus, (the first erectors of 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 289 

Rome) called from Lupa, comes also Lupanar, that is a 
brothel-house; and idolatry is called fornication almost 
through the whole scripture, and from Rome had these 
archtraitors their incendiary, &c. 

-Amongst other royal visitants, Christianas, the fourth of 
that name, king of Denmark, came into England, royally 
attended, to see his brother-in-law, king James, and his na- 
tural sister, queen Anne, whom the king in person met on. 
shipboard with prince Henry, the duke of Lenox, and divers 
of the nubility, and dined with him in his cabin: the two 
kings afterwards rode triumphantly through the city of 
.London; the ambassadors of France, Spain, and Venice, 
being spectators of tile solemnity. Here he was royally 
and magnificently entertained &nd feasted till his return, 
&c. who liked his welcome so well, that he came hither 
the second time. And in all the passages of his majesty's 
reign, there was nothing seen but peace, tranquility 
and quietness, there is no subject to write on, but of sundry 
plantations during his reign, as in Virginia, Bermudas, or 
the Summer Islands, &c. of men raised to office and ho- 
nour, of his several embassies into foreign countries, to 
make peace and atonement between divided kingdoms, 
and his interchangeable entertaining of their ambassa- 
dors; of the marriage of the lady Elizabeth to the prince 
Palatine; of the death of that most hopeful plant of 
honour and royalty, prince Henry, of whom I havo read 
this epitaph : 

In nature's law. His a plain case to die ; 

No cunning lawyer can demur on that) 

For cruel death and fatal destiny, 

Serve all men with a final Latitat: 

So brave prince Henry, when his cause Was tried f 
Confess a the action, paid the debt, and died. 

I may also put you in remembrance of \\.\e new erecting 
of the artillery garden, of the new river brought to Lon* 
don, of the building of the New Exchange in the Strand, 
and Hick's hall, of censures in the Star-chamber, in the 
high commission court, the burning of the banqueting® 
house, &c. of Sir W. Raleigh's execution at Westmins- 
Number VJL o o 



290 THE LITE OF MERLIN, 

fer, &c. the creating of George Villiers, gentleman, duke, 
and bis mother, countess of Buckingham, with infinite 
other peaceable passages, but these are now out of my road. 
In the year 1818, upon Wednesday, the 18th of Novem- 
ber, a blazing star appeared, and upon Tuesday, the second 
of March following, at Hampton Court, died queen Anne, 
to whom was made this epitaph : 

Her to invite , the great God sent his star , 
Whose friends and kindred might?/ princes are, 
Who though they run the race of men and die, 
Death seems hut to refine their majesty: 
So did this queen from hence her court remove, 
And left the earth to be enthroned above : 

Then she is changed, not dead, no good prince dies, 

But like the day-star, only set to rise. 

Upon Monday, the 16th of February, 1623, the king 
with the nobility, prepared to go to the parliament house, 
but that morning, died Lodowick, duke of Richmond and 
Lenox, at his lodging at the court in White-Hall, who i* 
worthily remembered in this epitaph following : 

Are all diseases dead ? or will death say, 
She could not kill this prince another way ? 
Yes, it was so, for time and death conspired, 
To make his death (as was his life) admired, 
The commons were not summoned, (now 1 see) 
Merely to mote laws, but to mourn for thee. 
No less than all the bishops could suffice 
- To wait upon so great a sacrifice. 
The court, the altar was ; the waiters, peers. 
The myrrh and frankincense, great cousin 1 \s tears. 
A braver offering, with more pomp and state, 
Nor time, nor death, could ever celebrate. 

Of king James, his wisdom, integrity, bounty, his study 
of peace, which he made good in his motto, M Beati Paci- 
fic i," and for all his other singular virtues. He with a 
supererogative overplus made good what was before for 
many years predicted of him, all which may be conclu- 
ded in this one epitaph made upon him: 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. 291 

Can Christendom } s great champion sink away 
Thus silently into a bed of clay? 
Can such a monarch die * and not to have 
An earthquake (at the least) to open his grave? 
Did there no meteors fright the Universe, 
Nor comet hold a torch to light his hearse ? 
Was there no clap of thunder heard to tell 
All Christendom their loss, and ring his knell ? 
Impartial fates ; I see all princes then, 
Though they liv'd gods, yet they inust die like men, 
And the same passing bell may toll for them. 
Which rung but now the beggar*s requiem. 
When such a soul is from the earth bereaven, 
Methinks there should be triumph made in heaven ; 
The stars should run at tilt at his decease, 
To welcome him into the place of peace : 
Who whilst he liv^d, in peace liv d, and did strive, 
Being in peace, to keep peace still alive. 
No widow 9 s curses, and no orphan? s cries, 
Shall interrupt his hallowed obsequies ; 
For their slain husbands, or their father's lost 
In bloody war, to wake thy peaceful ghost. 
I jet thy great predecessors boast the prize 
Of glorious (and yet bloody) victories* 
Let them upon their sepulchres expose, 
Triumphs of war, and spoil of foreign foes ; 
And glory to have turned the harvest Held, 
To a pitched camp, and ploughshare to a shield, 
So that on bloody furrows there were born 
As many blades of steel as now of corn ; 
Yet shall they praise be greater, since thy joy 
Was to plant nations rather than destroy; 
And though no mortal trophy speak thy praise, 
Because no drop of blood hath stained thy days. 
Yet this sure truth, their greatest fame controls, 
They subdued bodies, thou hast conquered souls. 
Truth was thy banner, the thrice sacred word, 
Thy target and thy pen a two edg'd sword. 
But lo, when Spanish coast, Rome's canon shot, 
False Gowry 5 s treason, Catesby's powder-plot, 
Could not destroy (all these thy fate did brave) 
A fever would needs bring thee to thy giave. 
For (being mortal) fate could not invent 

oo2 



?S2 THE LIFE OF MERLIN, 

His passage by a nobler instrument 

Than his 01071 blood; which made him comprehend 

TJ ithin himself the glory of his end. 

Like to a circle , this rich diamond must 

JBe cut by no means else than it's own dust* 

Thus is our sun set, never to return. 

Pay therefore tribute to his funeral urn. 

All peaceful souls, and with true sorrow's sense, 

Give unto him your hearts' benevolence* 

Of pious tears, then turn you from the west, 

To see the new sun rising in the east* 

Charles, the first of that name, king of England, be* 
gan his reign on Sunday the 27th of March 1625, and the 
next day afterwards commanded by proclamation, that all 
officers and magistrates, of what degree or quality soever, 
throughout his whole dominions, should still use and 
exercise all such power and authority as they held from 
his father, (of blessed memory) until his pleasure was 
further known. And on Saturday, the seventh of May next 
ensuing, were performed the funeral rites of his father, king 
James, and his corpse, with all magnificence and state 
carried from Denmark-house, in the Strand, to Westmins- 
ter abbey church ; king Charles being the chief and prin- 
cipal mourner, attended with all the nobility, clergy, 
and judges, whh sundry ambassadors, and all his officers 
and domestic servants, in mourning habits. His hearse 
being more royally adorned and attended than any of his 
predecessor kings; in which magnificent solemnity, his 
corpse was interred in the chapel royal, &c. 

1 should now proceed to the reign of the high, mighty, 
and invincible prince Charles, concerning whose sacred 
person, my rude pen dare not be so bold, nor with any of 
his just and royal proceedings, but am rather content to 
leave them to those of more knowing and better approved 
judgments, and more frequently versed in state business, 
and the laws and limits that belong to history and chrono- 
logy than myself. Yet thus far, according to my weak 
talent, and crassa minerxa, let me borrow leave to confer on 
him (though far short of his great meed and merit) a brief 
character. He is a prince wise and just, crowned with all 
the espeeial gifts of nature and fortune, but (which far 
transcends the rest) plenteously endowed with all heavenly 



WITH HIS STRANGE PROPHECIES. $93 

graces. Blest in a royal, chaste, and beautiful consort; 
blest with a most hopeful and numerous issue, conspicuous 
in the four cardinal virtues, justice, prudence, temperance, 
and fortitude; grounded in the three theological graces, 
faith, hope, and charity; illustrious in all other virtues, 
which generally adorn men, but make a prince greatly 
admired and gloriously eminent. Whom, with his in- 
comparable queen, the unparallelled prince his son, with 
the rest of his royal issue, God Almighty, in his great 
providence, and infinite mercy, continue in long life, 
ijealth, prosperity, and happiness, &c. &c. 



THE END OF MERLIN AMBROSIUs's PROPHECIES* 



,iiil -a^u...*, , u unM-niMnm. ■ ■■ ...in » miA.K. im—T P^ 



PROPHETICAL CHRONOLOGY of 

Merlin Silvestris, by way of Questions and 
Answers between Merlin and his Sister 
Gwendolina; wherein is laid outmost of the 
Kings successively that should reign in Great 
Britain from the Time wherein he lived, till 
the coming of the British Conqueror; and 
that such and his Race shall imperially reign 
for ever, both in Great Britain and elsewhere; 
copied literally from the Myvyrian ArchaU 
l°g!/ °f Wales^ and the Translation from 
Fugb?s British and Outlandish Prophecies. 



GWENDDYDD 

CYFARCHAF i'm ehelaeth 

frawd 
A wdais i feddfaeth 
Pwy a wledych oddiynaeth 

MERDDIN 

Pan dyvo dylat dylyet uchaf 
O tot hyt ueryt dylat 
Diued riein ortfen byt 

GWENDBYDD 

Neu eudy dylat dylyat uchaf 
Puy a vyd drevnaur a vi 
Llann a rann periglaur 

JIERDBIN 

Na rann periglaur na cherdaur 
Ny byd nac adreidyau'r allaur 
Yn y diguydo nef ar laur 

GWENDDYDD 
Llallauckan am hatebyd 
Myrdin mab Morvryn gel vyd 
Truan a chuedyl a duedydd 

MERBDIN 

As dyuedaf y Wendy d 
Kanys duysym kyverchyd 
Dylat diued riein vyd 
GWENDDYDD 

Cyfarchaf i'm ehelaeth frawd 
A welais i feddfaeth 
Pwy wledych oddynaeth 



MERBDIN 
A rydywedais i hyt hyn 
Y Wendyd waessaf unbyn 
Diderbyd kymmeint timmyn 

GWENDSYDD 

Llailauc kan am diderbyd 
Neu yr eneit dy vrodyr 
Pa bennaeth ynaeth a vyd 

MERDDIN 

Gwendyd wenn ben mynogi 

As dy weduyf yn divri 

Na byd pennaeth byth uedy 

Och anuyl or oer escar 
Guedi dyvotyn trydar 
Gan unben dewr diarchar 
Dy olo di y dan dayar 

Guascaraut auel awyr 
Puyll drut o duyll ot gerddir 
Guenassaut hyt vraut ys dir 

Och leas dy vedvaeth 

Neut yn ddiammaeth 

Hoet pa adoet pan dygir clot 

urno 
Pwy draetho guir 

O olochuyt kyvot a thravot 
llyvreu 



▲ FROPHETICAL CHRONOLOGY, &C 



595 



A wen heb arsuyt 
A chuedyl Bun a hun breu- 
duyt 

Maru Morgeneu marw Kyv- 

rennin 
Maru Moryen mur trio 
Trymmaf oed am dy adoed di 

Vyrdin 

Digones Dovyd dicued arnaf 
Maru Morgeneu maru Mordaf 
Maru Moryen maru a garau 

Vy un braut na cheryt arnaf 
Yr gueith Arderyd uyf klaf 
Kyvaruydyt a geissyaf 

Y Duw yth orchmynnaf 

Ath orchmynaf ditheu 

Y ben y creaduryeu 
Guendyd wen atlam Kerdau 

Y Kerdau rydrigassant 
O dyvot clot Bodrydant 
Och Duw huyut a adrant 

Guendyd nayyd anhylar 
Neu roet y lluyth ar y dayar 



Diovryt o baub a gar 

Ym byu nyth diovrydaf 
A hyt vraut yth goffaaf 
Dy ifosaut trallaut tryniraaf 

Escyt goruyd guynt 
Amlum ar dy afrddwl gynt 
Yt a fyn ol a aethynt 
G VVENDDYDD 

Amcuyrynaf iy eiryees rraut 

Y ren ry w goreu 

Kymer gymun kyn angeu 

MERDDIX 

Ny chymmeraf gymun 
Gan ysgymun veneich 
Ac eu tuvsjeu ar eu clun 
Am cyrauno Duw e hun 

GWENDDYDD 

Gorchymynaf vy eiryoes vraut 
Yn y Gaer Werthevin 
Gogelit Duw o Vyrdin 
MERDDIN 

Gorchymynaf inheu vy eiryoe* 

chwaer 
Yn y Gaer ni wesgrydd 
Gogelet Duw o Wendyd 



THE TRANSLATION. 

QUEEN Gwendolina, saluting her brother Merlin, 
demanded who should reign after such as by the rest of 
the prophecy is expressed ? 

Merlin. When the wages of the dull people comes to 
be paid, which will come to pass alter the reign of a virgin, 
then an end is at hand. 

Gwen. I demand of my kind and wise brother, after the 
wages of the dull people comes to be paid, who will be 
ordained to rule I I will yet fully demand will churchmen 
share ? 

Mer. Churchmen will not share, neither will ba?ds, 
poets, and harpers, be in esteem; but I will not have thee 



296 A PROPHETICAL CHRONOLOGY 

openly to publish that there shall be an ox born, which shall 
fall to the ground. 

Gwek. Liberal Merlin, the son of Morvryn, be pleased 
to yield me an answer to three questions? 

Mer. I will resolve, Gwendolina, who art very impor- 
tunate with me for thy request, the wages will be paid 
when a virgin queen is come and gone. 

Gwen. 1 will demand of my kind and wise brother, 
who will rei^n after that? 

Mer. Thou foolish and naughty Gwendolina, I have 
told thee already, and yet thou art endless in thy proposals. 
A powerful and mighty army will come, with a strong* 
band, who shall bear, rule, and continue, and then para- 
dise to thy brethren the Britains. 

Gwen. What kind of ruler will be then ? 

Mer. Fair Gwendolina, I do shew and tell thee in so- 
briety, that there shall be no other ruler for ever after ? 

Gwen. Woe is one my dear of such cold separation, 
and to be deprived of a valiant and courageous brother, 
and of his good discourse, when thou art put to banish- 
ment under earth ? 

Mer. An impatient storm shall make separation of men, 
which will prove a dear bargain, and as a sore plague to 
the strong, but let us betake ourselves away till the judg- 
ment day under the ground. 

Gwen. "When thy weakness fails, or thy life gone, 
which will be sorrowful unto me, then, who shall predict 
and deliver truth after Ate? 

Mer. There will arise woe and misery, yet, after a 
certain world, with suppressing of books, but Gwendolina 
will be without feeling of these, so likewise thy discourse 
and revelations for a while without esteem. 

Gwen. Morgenaf, Kowrenin, Moriab, and Morien the 
mason, all dead; but to be deprived of my kind brother, 
Merlin, will be a loss more sorrowful to me than all the 
rest. 

Mer. The Lord God was displeased with me, when he 
took from me my dear Morgenaf, Mordaf, and Morien, 
most dear unto me. 

Gwen. My brother, check me not, notwithstanding ijry 



*■*%. 

*•'. 



OF MERLIN SILVESTRIUS, 297 

unpleasing humour, for I am very weak and sick, therefore 
1 commend thy body and soul to the Lord God. 

Mer. And 1 commend thee likewise to the head of the 
creatures, yes, thou fair Gwendolina, which art to leap off 
from thy songs. 

Gwen. After thee my brother, wages shall fall, laud 
and praise shall grow to the vile people, but woe, how 
straight will their conditions be yet ? 

Mer. Gwendolina, be not hopeless, but faithful, not 
sorrowful, but comfortable ; thou that art dust and ashes, 
take thy farewell from the world, while I live, 1 will not 
forget thee, I will remember thy tender care and trouble 
with me, but now, 1 must be gone away after the race of 
the sons of men, which are gone from hence in peace, and 
shall be carried away swifter than the race of a horse, or 
blowing of the wind. 

Gwen. I commend my kind and and fair brother to be 
interred in the city of Gwrthenyn, at the north — — -whom 
God take to his blessed rest. 

Mer. 1 do commend my kind and fair sister to the 
tuition of the city, which shall never be scattered; which 
is the north city, or throne of God. 



• 



P F 



A prophecy of Merlin Silvestris, set forth 
by way of discourse with a prophet which lived 
in his days, called by the name of Parchell, 
in English a Pig, wherein is foretold a conquest 
of Britain. 



OIAN a parchellaa roor enrhyfedd 
Na budd un ennyd y Byd yn unwedd 
PeUed son saeson saei cywryssedd 
Ar brithwn haelon hil cymmwyedd 
A mi ddisgoganaf cyn fy niwedd 
Br} thon dros saeson brithwyr ai medd 
Ac yna in dawni ddawn gorfoledd 
Gwedi bod yn hir yn hwyr frydedd, 

Oian a parchellan nym daw y cyngyd 
O glybod llais adar mor ddiergryd 
Teneu gwalltfy mhen fyllen nyd clyd 
Dolydd fy esgubawr nid mawr ei hyd 
Fyngrawn haf a mi nid ymweryd 
Cyn ysgar aDuw didawi cywyd 
A mi ddisgoganaf cyn diwedd byd 
Gwragedd heb wyledd a gwyr heb wrhyd 

Oian a pharchellan, a phorchell ryni 
Teneu y w fy Hen nyd llonydd imi 
Er gwaith Arderydd mi nym dorbi 
Cyn syrthiai awyr i lawr a Uyr yn Hi. 












THE TRANSLATION. 



HOEAN PIG, how strange it is, nay how unconstant 
the world is, that it will not continue one minute in the 
same mind or temper ; and how, the subtle foundation of 
the English be far spread abroad, whose race will rule 
over the liberal Britons. But I will predict before my 
end, that the Britons will over-rule the English, and be 
possessed of Britain, and then shall they come to perfect 
honour after their long bondage. 

Hoean Pig, the long expected time will at last come to 
pass, by the noise of birds, which shall be heard at sea in a 



A. PROPHECY, &C. 259 

sad warlike manner ; by such time, the hair of my head 
will be thin, and my scull will become cold ; the treasure 
of my barn is but short, my summer crop of grain cannot 
save me; but I will predict that, before the end of times, 
women shall be without feast, and men without graves. 

Hoe an Pig, and a pig ready to starve for cold, my 
skull is but thin, and there is no hopes of rest unto me, yet 
all this shall come to pass before the dissolution of hea- 
ven and earth. 



A prophecy grounded upon Taliesin and both 

the Merlins. 

WE shall have London divided, with fierceness unto it 
— we shall have uproar upon the mountains and rich, 
vallies — we shall find the neighbouring nations bestiring 
themselves for offensive and defensive wars, and in the 
end we shall be possessed of a valley abounding with 
wheat, and before a settlement, we shall find a neighbour 
that will condole our troubles. 

Wc shall have uproar and treacherous attempts, with 
willing prepensed plots and combinations — we shall have 
sorry tokens of the heaving down of great oaks, and after a 
white spring, we shall have wars from the woman — for 
want of patience, we shall have deceitful troubles from the 
Lily. 

We shall gain by the loss of one field, strongly armed 
and fortified cities; and when we begin to carry the con- 
quest, we shall obtain Brecknock — we shall have heavy 
troubles and distractions from the man with the white 
robes crossed in his proceedings and enterprizes, who shall 
come to his end ; and then the council of a prisoner will 
be as unconstant as the wind. 

They will hatch a snare from the open flaming fire, but 
we shall have a timely separation, as true as the penny is 

pp2 



300 A PROPHECY, &C. 

round ; and (hen the chief flowers of England will vanish 
and decay, and also, the cat and weasel will be in havock. 

The remembrance of old dragons will be disputed by 
force of sharp pointed weapons; the lion with the strong 
and sure grapling will bridle the body of the clawned 
lion by the mawn, then shall we have the bemoaning of a 
divided race, but we shall have a gift from a mighty po- 
werful man. 

We shall have hot constitution with the vanquished 
Mouldwrap about castles and forts, then the wings of the 
Scots will appear like a violent burning fire, i have sung 
& line of prophecy from the ancient prophecies to the dark 
and cloudy council, and that the hawk shall challenge too 
far, 

A Raven and a Swallow will make a brave and valiant 
chace— there will arise from the south a sword with a 
golden cloak— we shall have a Stag that will conquer and 
keep towns and castles with mighty strength— ^-we shall have 
the golden horns and aged stag. 

We shall have nine of the same name, and shall have 
watchful men — we shall have fair weather after a storm, 
for clouds or the noise of wars will vanish away, and we 
shall have a renowned king — the noise of trumpets will 
likewise vanish, and then we shall have a day of corona- 
tion, which will be in the chastising mouth before the 
month of May. 

We shall have a summer overflown with blood, and 
England in havock, and shall be possessed of the territories 
and treasures of the unhappy conquered enemy, and shall 
have an aged and white bearded conqueror that shall 
bear rule over Jack and John, and shall scatter them to a 
wandering condition. 

The poet after his long progress in discovering what 
shall befall England alter Henry the eighth, pours his 
hearty prayer to Christ for the British conqueror, as also 
of the ninth Henry ; and that Christ (for his passion's 
sake J may preserve, protect, arid exalt them more an4 
jxiore irj their glorious conquests. 



CAM 



*ryptr* 



BROPHWYDOLIAETH 

MYRDDIN. 



Wedi ei chymmeryd allan o Lyfr y Daroganau 

Gan Wr Eglwysig. 



CH Wl fonedd a chyffredin, y Cymry a'r Saeson pur, 
O dewch yn nes i'r winllan i weithio am eich hur ; 
Mae'r udgorn wrlh ein drysau, ni wn i ddim pa bryd 

Y daw ein Prynwr Iesu i farnu hyn o fyd. 

2. 
Ceirgweled byd aflonydd, mewn trefydd ac mewn gwlad, 
Pob un yn lladd ei gilydd — yn yr&olch yn eu gwa'd ; 
JNi chredir mo'r gwirionedd na'r sawl y sydd ag e', 

Y celwydd, dyna'r testun, sy'n cael ei barch a'i le. 

3. 
Ceirclywed cloch heir Arthur yn canu'n fawr ei rhwysc, 
1 maes o dre Caerlleon yn yniyl dyffryn Wysc, 
Yn seinio dan arwyddion yn erbyn Owen draw, 
Medd Llyfr y D'roganau sy'n war ant yn ein llaw. 

Fe ddaw y Llew i'r Mwythig yn gwisgo arfau Cent, 
A'r Hebog bono ynteu ynrowndio casteli Gwent; 
Fe ddaw y Milgi a'r Llwynog i Aberhonddu fawr, 
Fe ddaw y Gath a'r Weingci ar hyd glan Towi i la wr. 

Fe ddaw y Twrc o'r India a nifer mawr eu stwr, 
A'r fraint bydd coron Lloegr yn ennill ar y dw'r ; 
Fe ddaw yr holl iuddewon i gyd i gredu yn Nghrist, 
A'r Highlanders i Loegr, ond dyna newydd trist. 

6. 
Ceir gweled daear grynfaau (a'r coedydd mawrion sy',) 
Ceir gweled gwaed y Saeson yn Aberhonddu fry, 
Yn rhedeg hyd heolydd fel tonau'r mor eu swn, 
Waith brad y cillill hirion ; hwy gant ddialedd trwm„ 






302 FROFHWYDOLIAETH MYRDD1». 

7. 

Crii gweled Owen lawgoch yn d'odi Frjdain Fawr, 
Ceir gweled newyn ceunog yn nhre' Caerlleon Gawr: 
Ceir gweled Towi'n w-aedFyd, a chlwyf ar Edinwnt gocb, 
Waith bod yn aber Milffort o blaid i'r Saeson raoch. 

8. 
O cawn ni weled gwaefyd yn He llawenydd clir, 
A'r Pasg ar fai newidir, a hyny cyn b'o hir ; 
Ceir gweled laeh yn ddifrad gan Gymry ar y tir, 
Medd Llyfr y D'roganau, mae'r geiriau yn ddigon gwir. 

9. 
Cewch glywed taro larwm, cewch hefyd ddeigrau drud, 
Gwylofain mawr gwylofus, cyn diwedd hyn o fyd ; 
Trwy ryfelhwy ddifethant wrth rodiotua'r dw'r 
Nes b'o saith o fenywod wrth odre' yr un gwr. 

10. 
Gwae f} T dd i'r Saeson creulon eu geni i'r byd erioed. 
Can's rhai fydd yn y creigydd ac ereill yn y coed, 
Fe dorir pen ei cad pen wrth allor bord Llandaf, 
Waith Uadron fydd yn fwrddrwyr, ond dyna gredit braf. 

11. 
JJaw yno emprwr arall yn fwy ei rwysg yn ihydd, 
Fe orfydd cilio'n gandrylli gastell tre' Caerdydd; 
Pan elo gynta' i'r castell, fe roddiff uchel gri, 
Ac yna lief e' dair-gwaith, gwae fi! gwae fi! gwae fi! 

12. 
O'r castell i'r drwsbychan fe ddiangc hwn i ma's, 
Ar ben y Rhiwiau Cochion fe leddir brwnt ei ffas, 
Ac yna fe amwis^ir mewn ty a'i wedd o 'whith, 
Medd Llyfr y D'roganau, mae'r war ant yn ein plith. 

1o 

Fe godir gwyr Morganwg o gastell tre' Caerdydd, 
I'r Filldir Aur yn amlwg, ond dyna newydd prudd, 
I'r fran i gael ei hymborth o gig a gwaed yn llif, 
Nes delo'r Fran big-felen i gwpla hyn o rif. 

14. 
Pan delo'r Fran i'r canol, ac ynallidia'r Ci, 
Y goreu o farchogion, fe dorir penau tri, 
Wrth ffynon Llys-ar-Fronydd, ar foreu llariaidd lion, 
Medd Llyfr y D'roganau, mae'r war ant gerein bron. 

15. 
Ceir gweled y gad a'r dyrfa yn dwad i Nant-y-glo, 
Wrth gyfri' rhai'n a'u swmo, ceir gweled beth y f o j 



FltOPHWYDOLIAETH MYRDDIN. SOS 

Ceir gweled y crog-brenni a'r croesau raawr yn llyn, 
A naw mis y cebystrau tu fewn i'r ynys hvn. 

16. 
Cly wir lief yn Abertawe, ac ochain mawr a chri, 
Cly wir lief yn Abermyrddy n, pan cwrddo deunaw llu ; 
Ac yno bydd rhyfela, a diwedd rhyfeltyn, 
Medd Llyfr y D'roganau, os gwyrthiau Duw a'i myn. 

17. 
Bydd penau plant deunaw mlwydd yn ddigon llwyd ea 

grudd, 
Bydd disglair arfau gloy won gan Iesu yr hwn a fydd ; 
Ac yno fe ddaw'r G'lomen, ni bydd hi hanner iach, 
Nes llosgi nyth y Barcut am ddwyn ei chy wion bach. 

18. 
Ceir gweled yn Ngbaerfyrddin ymrafaelcethin tyn, 
Cyn delo dial arni, ei chaerau syrth yn syn ; 
O aehos ymgynghori y'mhlaid y Barcut du, 
Mae Llyfr y D'roganau yn dweud y geiriau yn by. 

19. 
Ceir gwel'd yn Aber Milffwrd ymladdfafel y tan, 
A'r milwyr fyddyn cwympotrwy'r cleddyffawr a mSn, 
Fe saif y Protestaniaid yn ddewr o blaid y fFydd, 
Hwy gant y fuddugoliaeth yn odiaeth ddiwedd dydd. 

20. 
Daw newid dyddiau ac amser, ceir gweled ger ein broa, 
Ddiffyg dw'r a ffrwythau tu fewn i'r ynys hon : 
Ceir clywed llosgi Dublin, mae hynyn ddigon gwir, 
Medd Llyfr y D'roganau, a hyny cyn bo hir. 

21. 
Ceir gwel'd ymladdfa greulon ar Gefen-cethin fryn, 
A'r gwaed a fydd yn llifo ar hyd cleddyfau'n llyn ; 
A'r cyrn a fydd yn canu o gwmpas Abernant, 
Ac ar Riw-cyrph, ond odid, y lleddir ilawer cant. 



Ceir gwel'd y dyddiau enwog pan fyddo'r aur yn nghrog^ 
A'r arian wedi eu colli, yn talu Ilawer Hog, 
Ceir gweled aur dieithriaid yn reuno yn ein bro, 
A pliawb fydd yn eu caru, trwy 'u gosod dan y clo. 

23. 
Ceir gweled pobl Cymru cyn hyny ronyn bach, 
Yn gwerthu eu hyd a'u henllyn i'r cefnfor am aur cracb* 
Bydd gwasgu ar dlodion, ond ydyw hyn yn chwith, 
Medd Llyfr y D'roganau, mae'r waraut yn eiu plilh. 



$04 MOPHWYDOLIAETH MYRDDltf. 

24. 

Cyn delo hyn raewn effaith, ceir gwel'd arwyddion maith. 

Daw Hong dros Gefen-berwyn, fesryll y Cymry'u hiaith ; 

Daw tarw i ben y clochdy Caerfyrddin hoy wedd sydd, 

A'r dw'r a doriff dani, ond dyna newydd prudd. 

25. 

Chwi glywsoch losgi LIundain. cewch wel'd ei mharc o 
bell, 

Waith cysgu yn ei pheehod heb ofni Duw na dyn, 
Er nad yw'n ulw i'w gweled, aid yw hi ronyn gwell; 
Hi gaiff ei Uwyr ddystrywio, ni welir ond ei llun. 

26. 
Un fil a chwech cant cyfain, a thrugain mlwydd ac wyth, 
Oedd oedran Crist ein Prynwr pan gwnaethpwyd hyn o 

fwyth, 
I gael rhybuddio'r Cymry a chyfFro pawb o'r byd, 
I alw ar Dduw'n garedig, i attal hyn o lid. 



f DIWEDD. 



J. EVANS, PRINTER, PRIORY-STRKKT, CARMARTHEN. 



1JVDEX. 



A 



Page 

RCHIG ALLO, the character of 1 1 

the death of 12 

Arviragus made king 16 

Alcctus made ruler of Britain 19 

the death of ib. 

Asclepiodotus king of the Britons 20 

Armorica first called Little Britain 26 

Actius denies succour to Britain 28 

Aklroenus commisserates the Britons ib. 

Alanus de Insulis (Dr.) ' 43 

's predictions from the planets ib. 

Ambrosius and Uter, the king's younger brothers 46 

invade the land at Totness 5^ 

Aurelius and Uter maintainers of the true religion 56 

Arthur (King) meant by the Boar of Cornwall 57 

Aurelius Ambrosius's heroical acts against the Saxons 59 

Arthur^ (King) a summary of his conquests 67 

a custom derived from ib. 

the death of 68 

Apostacy, a just reward for 70 
Arthur (King) and his queen's bones found in the vale of A- 

valon v 125 

Aeon (city) taken by the Christians 130 

Austria* (Duke) the death of 13- 
Authority by which England claimed homage from the Scots 

kings 154 

Agincourt, the victorious battle of 203 
Articles of peace concluded between England and France 206 

Alban, (St.) the battle of 218 

Arthur, (Prince) marrieth to Catherine of Spain 24a 

the death of ib, 

Astrea, called Virgo — Justice 275 

Anne, (Queen) the death and epitaph of 290 

BRUTE, how descended 1 

cousin to ConnaMis 2 

how he divided the kingdom ib, 

Q Q 



1 



306 



liYDEX, 






Brute, the death of 
Bath, by whom built 

(Hot) the first founder of 
Bladud, the death of 
Britain governed by four dukes 
Belinus and Brennus, the unity of 
Belingsgate, the building of 
Brennus, the death of 
Biegabridus, a cunning musician 
Britain made tributary to Rome 
Birth of our Saviour 
Bassianus made king of Britain 
Britain forsaken by the Romans 
the great distress of 
how long without a kins 
Balsam the son of Bosor 
British lords, an assembly of 
Briton, a valiant 
Britain first called England 

much distressed 
Britons (conquering) fall to dissention, 
Battle-abbey, in Sussex, the conflict of 
Bigot (Hugh) the miserable death of 
Barons, their oration to the soldiers 
Baldwin (Earl) encourageth the king's soldiers 
Becket (Thomas) created archbishop of Canterbury 
oppeseth king Henry 
reconciled to the king 
curseth the king 
slain going to the altar 
the inscription over his tomb 
Burgundy j Duke) *s oration to his soldiers 

the death of 
Barons, their letter to the king, and the answer 
Battle between king Henry III. and the baroas 
Baliol (Sir John) made king of Scotland 
Bruce (Robert le) warreth against England 
Berwick betrayed to the Scots 
Barons, the assembly of 

their petition 
Baldock (Robert) made lord chancellor 
Bristol town and castle taken 
BaSdock (chancellor) dieth in Newgate 
Baliol (Sir Edward) crowned king of Scotland 
Bedford (Duke) regent to Henry VI. 
*s victories in France 



Page 

2 

4 
ib. 

ib. 

7 

8 

9 

12 

»s 

ib. 
18 
28 
ib. 

2 9 

43 

47 

49 
ib. 

75 

8o 

100 
112 

113 

ib. 

120 

ib. 
ib. 

121 

ib. 

ib. 

131 

ib. 

144 

H7 

163 

ib. 

164 

ib. 

165 
16S 
ib. 
172 
209 
210 



INDEX. 307 

Page 

Bedford, (Duke) the death of 211 

Blue Beard 213 

Buckingham (Duke) 's oration in the guild-hall 230 
not accessary to the murder of the two princes 

in the tower 231 

insidiadeth against the king 232 

taketh arms 233 

the death of ib. 

Banister's perfidiousness punished ib. 

Bosworth, the battle of 235 

Burgundy (Duchess) an enemy to the king 237 

's subtility 240 

Brandon (Charles) married to the French queen, Henry 

VIIl's sister , 247 

Britany, Picardy, and France, invaded by the English 248 

Bible, commanded to be read in churches 249 

Boulogne, the siege of — and taken by Henry VIII. 252 

CARLISLE, the building of 4 

Canterbury, the building of ib, 

Cordelia's love to her father 5 

the death of ib. 

Corneway, an indulgent mother 8 

Cities built by Brennus 9 

Cecilius, the guardianship of 10 

Cassibelan made king of Britain 1 3 

Computation of the time of our Saviour's birth 15 

Cathnesse in Scotland, when and by whom inhabited 17 

Coil king of Britain ib. 

Carassius aspireth to the British crown 19 

Coil made king of Britain 20 

Constantius's first coming into Britain 21 

married to Helena ib. 

crowned emperor ib. 

the great devotion and zeal of ib. 

buried at York ib. 

Constantine made king of Britain 21 

Cross, the first used in any imperial eagle 22 

Constantine purchaseth the title of The Great 23 

infatuated by the Arian heresy 24 

the Roman ruleth Britain and revolteth 27 

Constantius sent against him 10 * 

Constantine (King) 's issue 3° 

how he disposed of his children ib. 

the death of ib. 

Constantius made king of Britain ib. 

QQ2 



sos index. 

Page 

Constantine (King) slain by his guard 45 

Cruelty changed into piety 53 

Cornwall, (Duke) the death of 65 

Constantino, (King) the noble victories of 68 

Conanus (King) and his conditions 69 

Caretius, a most wicked king ib. 

Cadwailo (King) and his fortune 75 

returns to Britain ib. 

receiveth the Pasanda into league ib. 

5 s victories over the North umbers 76 

*s pretended miracle ib. 

kills seven kings 77 

the brazen man how m£ant 78 

a continuation of the history of 79 

Cadwalader, the last king of the Britons 80 

Canutus (King) conquered by Edmund 85 

Con. bat between Canutus and Edmund 86 

Canutus makes the first motion of peace ib, 

sole monarch of England 87 

's conscious justice 88 

the death of 89 

's son, Harold, king of England . ib. 

>s step-mother banished ib. 

Chester. (Bishop) sent to the Tower 160 

Catherine (Queen) sent to France, and royally received f 66 

Cressy's famous field won by the English and the French 

king wounded J 75 

Calais won by the English ib, 
Charles, duke of Normandy, escapes from the battle of 

Poic tiers 178 
Commons; an insurrection of 182 
cantains of the ib. 
take the Tower, &c. &c. i $3 
defeated and dispersed 184. 
Charles of France prisoner with Henry V. 206 
the Dauiphin, and Philip, duke of Burgoin^ recon- 
ciled 211 
Cade 5 (Jack) the insurrection of 213 
the pride of ib. 
enters London ib. 
's cunning to delude the people 214 
tf e injustice* robbery, and death of ib. 
Clarence t Duk.) revolteth from the lords 226 

murdered 228 
Commotions in Devonshire and Cornwall/ and the chief of 

the re els executed 242 



INDEX. 309 

Page 
Charles V. emperor of Germany made knight of the Garter 247 

Catherine, queen of Henry VIII. the death of 249 

Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley, the death of 264 

Calais lost by the English 271 

Charles (Prince) proclaimed king 291 

his reign 292 

DONWALLO reduceth Britain to a monarchy 7 

the first crowned king of Britain 8 

Denmark made tributary to Britain io 

Difference between Androgens and Cassibelan 1 5 

Danish invasion 81 

Dane. gelt, a tribute so called 82 

Danes, a general massacre of ib. 

their pride and insolence over Britain 83 

called lords, and in contempt lurdans ib» 

their persecution, and how long it continued 92 

Differences between the English and French kings 129 

Don Peter, the death of 1 80 

Differences between the dukes of Hereford and Norfolk, 

and both banished 189 
Divers turnaments and justs performed in Smithfield, be- 
tween Englishmen and strangers 198 
Dorset (Marquis) discharged of his protectorship 229 
Difference between king Richard and the duke of Buck- 
ingham 232 
Divers suffering for denying Henry VIII's supremacy 250 
Denabelt (Monsieur) ambassador from the French king 253 
's entertainment by prince Edward 254 
Dudley, (Guildford) the death of 263 
Denmark (King) cometh to England 289 

EDINBURGH, the castle of 4 

Eianius, the death of 1 1 

Elidorius, the mildness of 1 2 

the third time made king ib. 

Ethelred (King) the son of Alfrida 80 

Edward edest son of king Edgar made king 81 

's wicked step~mother ib. 

's base murder ib. 
Etheldred's marriage and issue ib. 
Elphricus, (earl and admiral) turns traitor, and his son pu- 
nished Sz 
Edricus intended by the snake ib. 
Etheldredus (King) 's second marriage ib. 
Edricus created duke of Mercia 84 



318 INDEX. 

Page 

Etheldredus and his queen forced to fly the land 84 
Elphigus (Bishop) 's imprisonment and murder ib. 
Etheldredus, the death of ib. 
Edricus, the treason of 85 
Edmund (King) fighting a duel with Canutus 5 but are recon- 
ciled 86 
slain by the traitor Edricus 87 
Edmund Ironside, what became of his sons $8 
Edward, surnamed the Confessor, made king 94 
's mother accused of adultery with Alwin, bishop of 
Winchester ib. 
English chronicles, what they affirm to be truth ib. 
Emma, wife to King Canutus, acquitted of the suspicion of 

incontinency 95 

Edward the Confessor, the death of 98 

England invaded by the Danes 97 

Eustace the son of king Stephen i*5 

the death of 116 

Ely, (Bishop) made vicegerent 129 

the tyranny of 133 

English lords revolt from Lewis to king Henry 143 

Edward (Prince) 's expedition to the Holy Land 149 

's valour — wounded at Acre 1 5° 

the coronation of — called Long-shanks 15 1 

Eleanor, (Queen) the death of 153 

Edward, (King) the issue of ib. 

? s mother's death ib. 

taketh Berwick 156 

's victory at Dunbar ib. 

taketh Edinburgh castle, Crown, &c. ib. 

marrieth the French king's sister 157 

Edward II. created 404 knights ib. 

*s last victory over the Scots 158 

swears the barons ib» 

*s death and epitaph ib. 

a prophecy of his reign 159 

's coronation ib. 

Edward III. the birth of 1 60 

Edward II. the character of 162 

*s power against Scotland 163 

Edward (Prince) created duke of Guien 166 

contracted to the daughter of the earl of Henaud 167 

Edward (King) and the Spencers fly to Wales 168 

pursued by the queen ib. 

deposed of all kingly power 169 

's great repentance *b. 



INDEX. 311 

Page 

Edward III. crowned , 70 

's father's death 17l 

besiegeth Berwick i ^ t 

English ships taken by the French j «* 

Edward III. lays claim to the French crown <b. 

>s eldest son created prince of Wales 1 7 - 

instituteth the Order of the Garter ib. 

besiegeth Calais i^- 

Edward, (Prince) why called the Black Prince ib. 

's victories over the French 175 

the death of x g 

Edward III. the death of I g l 

's royal issue and epitaph ib. 

Edward, (Prince) the birth of 217 

Edward IV. (earl of March) made king 22c 

's coronation 222 

a prophecy of his reign ib # 

marrieth the lady Elizabeth Gray, who is crowned 

queen 223 

flies the land 224. 

proclaimed usurper, and the duke of Glocester 

traitor 22c 

Iandeth at Ravenspur ib„ 

brought Henry to the field 226 

*s victory ib. 

Edward (Prince) the murder of 227 

Edward IV. the death of 228 

a prophecy thereof ib„ 

godfather to perkin Warbeck 240 

Elizabeth, (Queen) the death of 242 

England and France defy the emperor 248 

Elizabeth, (Lady) the birth of 249 

Edward, (Prince) the birth of ib« 

Essex, (Earl) the death of 251 

Edward VI. crowned 254 

's naval vietory 25^ 

proved to be a Caesar by prophetic explanation 258 

*s death, character, and zeal to propagate true 

religion 259 

's knowledge of literature ib. 

Elizabeth (Lady) proclaimed queen 272 

prophecy and calculation of her birth and reign ib. 

brief catalogue of her troubles 274 

who were her greatest adversaries ib. 

's passage through London to her coronation 275 



312 INBEX. 

Page 
Elizabeth's deportment at the speeehes of the pageants 276 

's construction of 278 

's love of the Bible 280 

met by the mayor and aldermen ib. 

cometh to Ludgate ib. 

's coronation 281 

foreign an domestic attempts against her ib. 

FERREX and Porrex (Rings) the reign of 6 

's death ib. 

French (Kins;) departs to his country 120 

Frederick, (Emperor) the death of 140 

Fonkirk, the battle of 1-7 

French (King) refuseth to assist his sister 166 

Foxes, the policy of 195 

Fioden-field, the battle of — the Scots king slain 24.7 

Faux, (Guy) an obstinate traitor apprehended 287 

GOGMAGOG 5 the fall of 2 

Glamorgan, how called 6 

Gorbodue, (King) the reign of jb # 

Ganders, the feast of Q 

Greece invaded by Brennus Jo 

Gurguintus with the red beard jj^ 

Gorbomanus the son of Morindus lt 

the second I2 

Guiderius, king of Britain ,g 

Glocester called Claudio Cestria jb # 

Gratian, king of Britain 2 y 

the death of 55 

Guanus and Melga jb # 

Guethelinus, archbishop of London 28 

Gothlois, duke of Cornwal, the death of 64 

God the justifier of innocence 72 

's prudence in the preservation of children »a 

Goodwin (Earl) 's sons and daughter o 2 

and his six sons meant in the prophecy— the seven 

heads by their bloody projects 93 

the policy and cruelty of ib. 

and his sons escape from the land g^ 

restoration of ib. 

's remarkable death 96 

Gavestone (Pierce) revoked from banishment 159 

the marriage of ib. 

created earl of Cornwal ib. 

banished to Ireland 160 



INDEX. 313 

Page 

Gavestone abuseth the peers 2 6o 

robs the king's treasury ^ 

banished to Flanders, and his death ib. 

GJocester (Duke) murdered 1 88 

Glocester (Duke) protector of Henry VI. 2oa 

arrested and murdered in his bed 21 2 

(protector of king Edward) the tyranny of 229 

takes upon himself to be king 231 

proclaimed by the name of Richard III. ib. 

Gardner (Bishop) committed to the Tower 255 

Gray (Lady Jane) proclaimed queen 260 

's death, character, and age 263 

Garnet (Henry) provincial of the Jesuits executed 288 

HUMBFR, (River) how came to be so called 2 

Hely, the government of 12 

Hamo, a great Roman captain l<5 

Helena, mother of Constantine 23 

findeth the cross ib. 

Honorius, the emperor 28 

Hely* the father of king Lud 34. 

Headfield, the battle of 78 

Hoc or Hop Monday 83 

Harold, son of Canutus 89 

Hardy Canutus (Dane) crowned king of England 91 

's barbarity to his brother ib. 

'$ riot and excess 02 

dieth drinking ib. 

Harold saileth to Normandy 96 

crowned king of England 97 

victorious in a bloody battle ib. 

's ambition thought to be the cause of the loss of 

another battle 98 

's answer to duke William ib. 

sends spies to the king's host 100 

slain by an arrow 101 

Henry I. (William the Conqueror's son) usurpeth the crown 107 

the death of no 

how spoken of after his death 1 1 1 

Henry, duke of Normandy, the marriage of 1 15 

landeth in England, and a peace meditated 1 16 

Henry II. the coronation of 118 

prophecy of his reign, and partly explained ib. 

's character, issue, and dominion 119 

takes the Scots king prisoner ib. 






311 IKBEX. 

Page 

Henry, no king before him of such large empire 1 20 

Henry III. crownad king by his father 122 
imprisons the queen, and she is released by her sons ib. 

Henry II. laboureth for a divorce between him and his wife 124 

receives sundry admonitions ib. 

refuseth to be general for the Holy Land 127 

the death of 128 

Henry IV. crowned king 142 

taken prisoner by the barons 147 

the death and epitaph of 148 

Ha&idown Hill, the famous battle of 172 

Hereford (Duke) landeth at Ravenspur 190 

claims the crown 191 

Henry IV. installeth 41 knights of the Bath 193 

the champion of *94 

a prophecy of his reign ib. 

marrieth with the duchess of Britain 198 

sumptuous buildings in his reign ib. 

prepares a voyage to the Holy Land 200 

falls sick and dieth *b* 

Henry V. crowned 201 

's reign pro* hecied of 202 

prepareth against France *"• 

iandeth in Normandy 1 b« 

environed by the French 20 3 

? s rare policy - *k« 

cometh to England 204 

• landeth in Normandy 205 

's many conquests — taketh Rouen i°* 

marrieth the lady Catherine 206 

made heir apparent to the French crown ib. 

's queen feasted at Paris 20 7 

Henry VI. the birth of '&• 

Henry V. the death of 2 °S 

Henry VI. made king 20 9 

the coronation of 2I0 

crowned at Paris 1 & - 

a prophecy of his reign 211 

marrieth the lady Margaret, the cause of many 

miseries 2l2 

prophecy explained 2, 5 

creates two earls 2I 7 

taken prisoner 2I ° 

deposed 221 

's queen fly to Scotland 222 

Hexham, the battle of 22 3 



INDEX. 315 

Page 

Henry taken and sent to the Tower 223 

again made king 224 

's oath to the York citizens 225 

again made prisoner 226 

sent to the Tower 227 

stabbed to death ib. 

Hastings, (Lord) the death of 230 

Henry V 11. landeth at Milford-Haven 234 

>s host 235 

*s victory 237 

's coronation* and his queen's ib. 

a prophecy of his reign ib. 

the death of 244 

is much favoured by the bishops of Rome 245 

's great riches at his death ib. 

Henry VIII. the coronation of ib. 

the prophecy about him ib. 

Henry, (Prince) the birth and death of 246 

Henry (King) assisteth Spain — invadeth France 247 

seeks a divorce with his wife 248 

raarrieth the lady Anne Builen 249 

marrieth the lady Jane Seymour ib. 

Hertford (Earl) 's voyage to Scotland 252 

Henry invadeth France ib. 

the death of 254 

Henry (Prince) 's epitaph 289 

IRELAND, the first plantation of 1 o 

Isimbardus, nephew to Lewis king of France 7° 

JAGO, (King) the reign of 6 

Judon, a cruel mother ib. 

Julius Caesar's ambition to conquer this island 1 4 

the first attempt and success of ib. 

the second attempt of ib. 

the third attemot of *> 

' - It ■* 

JeofTrey Plantaginet, the death of 115 

Jerusalem, nine Christian kings reign over 126 

John reconciled to his brother, king Richard 135 

made king of England 136 

called the Fox — afterwards the Leopard 137 

the character of ib. 

the marriage and issue of ib. 

looseth Normandy ib. 

and the arch-bishop quarrel ib. 

rr2 



316 INDEX* 

Page 

John, the obstinacy of 1 38 

proclamation of ib. 

extorteth from the clergy ib. 
submitted to the pope, delivereth up his crown, and 

pays a yearly tribute 140, 141 

the death of 142 

John, king of France, taken prisoner in the battle of Poic 

tiers and many of the nobility killed and wounded 178 

dieth at the Savoy 179 

John of Gaunt's title to Spain 180 

claims his title 186 

the death of 189 

Joan of Arc, burnt for a witch 210 

James, king of Scotland, marrieth the lady Margaret 242 

his lineal title to the crown of England, &c. 283 

9 s prophecy 284 

born with a lion on his breast 285 

the first treason attempted against him ib. 

his wisdom— the discovery of the powder plot 287 

the funeral of 291 

KIMARUS, the death of 11 

Knolls, (Sir Robert) 198 

Knights (forty-five) created at Leiih 253 

LEICESTER, by whom built 4 

Leir, three daughters of ib. 

Legions, (Caerleon) the city of 8 

Lud, (King) repaired old castles, &c. 13 

's town, now London ib. 

Lucius, the first Christian king in Britain 17 

dieth without issue 1 8 

Lucius, the Roman emperor, slain by king Arthur 68 

London's first charter granted by king William 105 

Londoners and Kentishmen take king Stephen's part 114 

London bridge first built of stone 1 39 

the first mayor and sheriffs of ib. 

Lewis, son to the French king, called to England by the 

barons 141 

Llewelyn, prince of Wales, rebelleth 151 

imploreth for mercy ib. 

the death of 151 

's epitaph, by a Welsh poet 152 

the answer of by an Englishman ib. 

London Tower taken by the citizens 168 

Lords conspire againit king Henry 195 



INDEX. 317 

Page 

Leicester, a parliament held at 202 

Lords arrested ib. 

fly, and leave king Henry master of the field 25c 

Latian meant Hely 275 

Lupanar, called also Acca Laneratia 288 

MADAN, the death of 3 

Memprisius, the death of ib. 

the numerous issue of ib. 

Morindus, the character of 11 

Morgan, the reign of 12 

Marius, king ©f Britain 17 

Maxentius drowned 22 

Maximian's first entrance into Britain 25 

breaketh his oath 26 

the death of 27 

Merlin, the birth of 40 

the son of a king's daughter ib. 

and Plato had fathers alike ib. 

whether a Christian or an heathen ib. 

? s prophecies justified by truth 43 

born in the reign of king Vortigern 45 

city from him so called 52 

first discovered, and his mother appearing before 

the king ib. 

's speech to the king 53 

's words found true ib. 

5 s first prophecy 54 

by some held to be a magician 57 

deviseth sports to make the king merry ib. 

leaveth the king 58 

*s prophecy of the king's death ib. 

of Uterpendragon ib. 

bringeth stones from Ireland 59 

sent for by the king 63 

's strange metamorphoses ib. 

Mordred slain by king Arthur 68 

Malgo's description and character 69 

Mother, a cruel purpose of a 74 

Mercia and Northumberland's dukes submitting 101 

Maud, (Empress) the lords swearing to her succession 110 

's second marriage ib # 

's landing in England 113 

Margaret (Queen) sent to France, and royally received by 

her brother 166 

landeth in Suffolk, and pursueth the king 167 



31% INDEX. 

Page 
Mortimer, (Sir Roger) the pride of, and articles exhibited 

against him by parliament 171 

the death of 172 

Margaret, queen of Henry V. crowned 207 

and her council sway all 2 \i 

>s practice against the lords 2 f a 
against the earls of Warwick and Sa- 
lisbury ib # 

again victorious a 2I 

flieth into Scotland 222 

invadeth England 220 

Montacute (Marquis) 's connivance 226 
the death of ib. 

Mary, (Lady) the birth of z ^ 

Moore, (Sir Thomas) the death of 249 

Magnificent shows 254 
Musselborough field, the battle of ib. 

Mary (Lady) crowned queen a 6! 
's reign predicted ib. 

Morgan, (Judge) the death of 269 

Mary, (Queen) the tyranny of 264 
why favourable to the Romish religion ib. 

purposeth to marry cardinal Pole s>6e 

insurrections in her reign 267 

's marriage with prince Philip of Spain 270 

rumoured to be with child * 271 
's sorrow for the loss of Calais ib, 

's death 272 
buried without a monument ib. 

Merlin, a prophecy conferred on 282 

Monteagle, (Lord) a letter to 286 

NEUSTRIA understood to be Normandy 93 

Normandy, the duke of ng 

Norman blood in 70 years extirpated 1 17 

Noblemen of France slain at Poictiers 173 

Nottingham, (Earl) the perfidious act of a8g 

Normandy and France made one monarchy 206 

Northampton, the battle of 220 
Northumberland and Suffolk, (Dukes) insidiating against the 

protector and admiral 255 

their wives betray them 256 

their ambition 260 
Northumberland (Duke) 's commission to fetch in the lady 

Mary 261 

arrested of high treason ib. 



INDEX. 



Northumberland's death 



OCT A VI AN made deputy governor of Britain 
usurpeth the crown 
made absolute king of Britain 
Oswaldus, (St.) the story of 

's chanty and temperance to the poor 

the death of 
Omen, a good 

Owen Glendour, the rebellion of 
Oxford (Earl) 's valour 
Oneile (the Great) made earl of Tyrone 



319 

Page 

262 

22 

24 

2 S 

17 
ib. 

78 

99 

197 

226 
251 



PROPHETS, predicters, and seers 

Prophetical poets 

Prophets and philosophers in all nations 

Prophecy explained 

Pretended miracle 

explained 
Perjury punished by the hand of God 
Prophecy — partly explained 
Patriarch, the answer of to Henry II. 

proud and peremptory 
Pope accurseth England 
the bull of the 

acquits the lords, &c. of their allegiance 
the thunderings of 
Pomfret (Peter of) 
Prophecy of Henry III. 

another of the same 
Parliament of White Bands 

held at Northampton 
Poictiers, famous battle and manner of 
Pierce, (Alice) the king's concubine 
Parliament, summoned to rectify the common-wealth— 

persons adjudged to suffer death 
Peace concluded between England and France 187, 247, 
Pole (Cardinal) from his minority 

's employment to the emperor and to the French king 
's mother, the countess of Salisbury, beheaded 
twice elected pope 
made archbishop of Canterbury 
the death of 
Philip (Prince) of Spain landethat Southampton 
presented with the Order of the Garter 
>s demeanor to the people 



39 

ib. 

4i 

7* 
77 
99 

II! 
112 

I27 

ib. 
158 

ib. 

ib„ 
140 
141 
142 
14.9 
164 
171 

l 77 

180 

186 

253 
264 
265 

ib, 

ib- 
266 

ib. 
267 

ib. 
268 



320 INDEX. 

Page 

Philip meeting with the queen 268 

the apparel of 260 

made king of Naples and Jerusalem ib. 

married to queen Mary ib, 

and Mary, their royal titles and entertainments by 

the city of London 270 

favoureth the lady Elizabeth 271 

Jeaveth the land ib. 

Pageants addressing queen Elizabeth at Fenchurch 276 

at Gracious Street 277 

in CornhiJl 278 

at Soperlane 879 

People, the votes of ib. 

Pageant at the Little Conduit ib, 

in Fleet-Street 280 

Powder treason, and conspirators' names 286 

Prophetical chronology ot Merlin Silvestrius, being que«« 

tions and answers between him and his sister Gwendolina 294 

R1VALLO 6 

Rome, the first building of ib. 
Roman government in Britain ceased, with a computation of 

the times 29 
Religion (the falling of) made good in Gormundus and the 

Saxons 70 

Red Dragon spoken of ib. 
Robert, archbishop of Canterbury's speech against queen 

Emma 94 
Robert^ son of William the Conqueror, rebelleth against 

his father 103 

offered to be made king of Jerusalem 107 

neglected by his peers ib # 

? s easy and liberal disposition 108 

taken prisoner by his brother ib, 

Robert, earl of Glocester^ taken prisoner 115 

Rosamond, the fair lady 122 

poisoned by the queen ib, 

the inscription on her tomb 123 

Richard I. succeedeth his father . 128 

undertaketh the holy voyage 1 29 

conquered the isle of Cyprus ib. 

sells the isle of Cyprus 13 i 

vilifieth the duke of Austria ib. 

intends to besiege Jerusalem ib. 

's victory 132 

leaveth the Holy Land ib. 



IKD£X. 321 

Page 
Richard I. ambushed in his return — taken prisoner and had 

the appellation of Cour-de-lion 134 
ransomed for *8 100,000 ib. 
wounded at Lymoges, in France ib. 
's arrival in England ib. 
the death of 136 
Richard, earl of Cornwa!, crowned emperor 143 
>s letter to the barons 14; 
the death of 1 48 
Richard II. made king 182 
the marriage of ib. 
a prediction of the reign of ib, 
the second marriage of 1 88 
J s court and pride thereof 1 86 
's journey to Ireland 189 
9 s landing in Wales 190 
taken prisoner — presented to the duke of Lancas- 
ter, and deposed ib. 
removed to Pontefract 195 
J s death, treasure, and epitaph 196 
Richard, duke of York, the issue of 205 
Rebels shut out of London 214 
Robin of Ridisdale „ 224. 
Richard III. labours to supplant Richmond 233 
's queen poisoned ib. 
9 s policy ib. 
*s rashness at Bosworth, and death 235 
's burial — the manner of, and character 236 
Rebellion in Ireland 251 
Romish religion suppressed 257 

the prophecy thereof explained 258 

restored by parliament 262 

Rose (white and red) united 277 

joined with the thistle 285 

Richmond and Lenox, (Duke) the epitaph of 290 

SEVERN, (River) how came to be so called 3 

Shaftsbury, the building of 4 

Southampton, from whence took its name 16 

Severus named himself king of Britain 18 
Seven decrees made by Constantine to the honour of his 

Saviour 23 

Spirits between the moon and earth called Incubi 40 
Sibyls, their prophecies approved of by Austin and others 

of the fathers 41 

$ s 



322 INBEX. 

Page 

Sibylla Cumana 42 

Saxons, the first landing of— their policy 46, 47 

suppress the faith of Christ 56 

Samson, archbishop of York, and his six brothers 71 

Swanus, the tyrant, the death of 84 

Saxons, the end of their royal race 101 

Stephen crowned king in 

extorteth from the clergy and laity 112 

and the empress Maud have a battle, and the king 

taken prisoner 1 14 

's queen petition the empress ib. 

is exchanged for earl Robert 1 1 5 

the death of — his pretended right to the crown 1 16,1 17 

Scots revolt 155 

sworn on the sacrament — break their oath 157 

deride the English — their cruelty 163 

Spencer (Hugh) the son, the pride of 164 

the father made earl of Winchester 165 

Spencers, their hatred to the queen which proved their ruin 166 

beaten with their own weapons 167 

the father and son suffer death 168 

Scots taunt the English 171 

Straw (Jack) captain of the rebels, the death and pride of 1 $2 

Shrewsbury, the battle of J 97 

Salisbury, (Earl) the death of 210 

Suffolk (Earl) seeketh to supplant the duke of Glocester 21 1 

the proceedings of 212 

(Marquis) arrested and sent to the tower 21 3 

banished for five years — the death of ib. 

Shaw (Dr.) ? s sermon at St. Paul's cross 23® 

Surrey (Earl) taken prisoner 235 

Stokefield, the battle of 238 

Stanley, (Lord) challenged of treason, and beheaded 241 

Sorry, (the noble earl) the death of 254 

Seymour, (admiral Sir Thomas) the death of 256 

Somerset, (Duke) protector, put to death for felony 257 

's character, honour, and offices ib. 

catalogued among the English martyrs ib. 

Saffolkmen adhere to lady Mary 260 

Suffolk, (Duke) the death of 262 

TROYNOVANT, the building of, since called London 2 

Tenantius, the government of 1 5 

Trahern sent into Britain 2 4 

Thirty-three kings, before scarce mentioned 33 

Thonge-castle, the building of 4" 



INDEX. 323 

Page 

Tanner, (John) an impostor 162 

Three kings present at Smithfield 1 79 

Trolop (Andrew) perfidious to the lords 2 1 9 

Tewksbury, the battle of 227 

Tower, a council held at 230 

Temple Bar, the shew at 280 

Traitors arraigned at Westminster and executed 287 

URSULA with the 11,000 virgins 27 

Uterpendragon crowned king 61 

victorious over the Saxons and others ib. 
enamoured of Igerna, wife to the duke of 

Cornwai 62 

invadeth Cornwai ib. 

Ulphin of Caer-Caradoc ib. 

Uterpendragon, Merlin, and Ulphin, enter the fortTindagol 63 

's speech to the duchess of Cornwai 65 

Merlin and Ulphin, the transformation of 66 

espouseth the duchess ib. 

Underwood, a second Banister 262 

Unicorn, part of the Scots arms 284 

VESPASIAN conquering the isle of Wight 1 7 

Vortiger or Vortigern 30 

Virgil's prophecy of Christ 41 

Vortigern's ambition to the crown 45 

crowned king 46 
forsaketh his queen, to marry with Ronwen the 

daughter of Hengist 47 

deposed ib. 

Vortimer (King) 's many brave victories over the Saxons 48 

conquered the Saxons in seven several battles ib. 

poisoned by his step-dame, Ronwen ib. 

Vortigern restored to the crown ib. 

suppressed by Hengist 49 

's enquiries of the wizards 51 

the lamentable death of 55 

Vortiporius and his victories 69 

WINCHESTER, the building of 4 

Walbrook, from whence took its name 20 

Wednesday and Friday, whence had their appellation 46 

Wizards, their cunning evasion 51 

What was meant by the German Worm and Sea Wolf 69 

William the Norman landeth in England 99 

'g three pretences for invasions ib* 



324 ik&ex. 

Page 

William makes three profers to king Harold before the 

battle. — William victorious loo 

crowned king of England i Q2 

's eldest son, Robert, rebels against his father, and 

is victorious 101 

's admonition to his sons, and his death ib. 

William II. crowned king y % i 

's strange submission i r 

buildeth Westminster hall i 6 

murdered by Sir Walter Tyrrel— his character ib. 

the justice and liberality of 107 

's two sons drowned i©o 

Wards first granted 142 

Wallis, (William) the end of 157 

White battle 165 

Wiltshire (Earl) and others executed lep 

Westminster hall, and the manner of the great feast there' 193 

Wakefield, the battle of 221 

Warwick (earl) voweth to remove king Edward 224 

the death of 226 

Warbeck, (Perkin) a new impostor pretends to be duke of 

York 240 

abetted by the French 241 

married to lady Gordon ib. 

landeth in Rent ib. 

proclaimed himself king of England 242 

sent to the Tower 243 

hanged at Tyburn ib. 

Warwick, (the young earl) beheaded on Towerhill ib. 

Woolsey (Cardinal) ambassador to France 248 

the death of ib. 

Worthy government, the seat of 278 

YORK, the building of 3 

(duke) opposeth the queen and her council 215 

seized as prisoner ib. 

set at liberty ib. 

made protector 218 

is changed ib. 

the pride of the 220 

proclaimed heir apparent to the crown ib. 

slain 221 
the young duke of f delivered to the archbishop of 

Canterbury, and duke of Glocester 229 






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